Permission must to dig roads in BBMP limits to lay underground cables

NT Correspondent

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that cable companies must take prior permission to dig roads in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits for laying underground cable in the state capital. Replying to Byrathi Suresh, MLA from Hebbal, in the Assembly here on Tuesday, the CM said the rules in this regard would be formulated soon.

It is mandatory for private telecom companies to deposit money in BBMP as security deposit before digging roads. That deposited money must be spent on the repairs of roads. In case companies do digging unauthorisedly, the cost of restoring roads too must be borne by them.

The roads in the city are damaged beyond recognition due to massive digging by private telephone companies. The proposed rules will make it mandatory for companies to bear the cost of repairing roads.

Bommai also said it is mandatory on the part of private companies to restore roads after laying cables and non-compliance with this order will be treated as indiscipline and stern action will be taken against the guilty companies. Five FIRs were filed and Rs one crore penalty collected from some companies for not filling up dug roads in eight wards in Hebbal constituency. The cables have been laid in a 90 km stretch in the last three years. Penalty was imposed for digging an additional 1.25 km in the constituency, he added.