BBMP removes cables on Tendersure roads

M K Gunashekhar, president of the BBMP Standing Committee for Tax and Finances, launched, on Tuesday, the official removal of OFC cables illegally installed by various telecom companies on the footpaths of TenderSure Roads, defeating the very purpose of such roads at a cost of a crore per 100 meters, reported Kannada Prabha.

Meanwhile, BBMP officials have lodged a complaint with police and fined Rs 5 lakh to Prism Developers for removing the footpath in front of Chandrika Hotel on Cunningham Road and not repairing it. The officials have also issued notice to the developer to pay Rs 15,000 towards repair of the footpath.

The drive to removing cables started at Cunningham Road, where illegal cables were drawn on trees, light poles by companies like Idea, Airtel, Geo, Vodafone and other internet companies. Speaking to media persons Gunashekhar said, ducts have been provided under the footpaths of TenderSure roads to draw OFC cables.  Yet the companies have drawn cables on the surface, defeating the very purpose of TenderSure Roads.  The companies were issued notices several times but to no response. Hence the BBMP decided to officially remove the cables, he said.

Orporation Chief Engineer, OFC division, M R Venkatesh Murthy said permission has been granted for a total 9,200 km long OFC cables in the City. In 2016-17 under the Akrama - Sakrama scheme permission was granted for additional 4000 km of cables. The BBMP gets an income of Rs 320 crores from the cables. In 2017-18 permission has been granted for another 1200 km of cables, getting an income of Rs 130 to Rs 140 crore. However, there are still thousands of km of illegal cables detected and by removing these the leakage in income for BBMP will be checked, he said.

Illegal cables will be removed all over the City, starting with nine TenderSure Roads, where OFC cables are drawn on the surface.

Meanwhile, a member of the Standing Committee has alleged that Gunashekhar is exhibiting dictatorial attitude and not taking members of the committee into confidence. Hence the members were not present during the launch of the campaign.

• OFC cables on Tendersure footpaths
• Illegal cables will be removed