The Hindu 09.07.2013
Illegal cables to be taken off roads
The civic body is likely to commence an enforcement
drive against illegal cables on roads and streetlights after obtaining
government nod this week.
The Corporation has
completed collection of data from telecom service providers and cable TV
operators to regulate such entities.
“Over 18 cable
TV operators and telecom service providers have given an updated list of
stretches where they have laid cables. We have removed excess cables
from many roads,” said Radhakrishna Vittaldev, representative of telecom
service providers in the city. Over 18 service providers participated
in the meeting two weeks ago.
Over 6 km of cables on a
number of stretches including South Boag Road, North Boag Road and Anna
Salai have been removed. However, most of the cables not covered in the
list are yet to be removed, said an official of the Corporation. More
than 800 km of cables have been identified in the city, yet many
stretches are yet to be included in the list.
The
civic body will collect revised track rent from the operators after
making changes to existing underground infrastructure. The initiative
will also facilitate construction of cement concrete roads in the city.
Work
on cement concrete roads on 69 stretches will commence shortly. Telecom
service providers and cable TV operators said they would cooperate with
the civic body in the removal of cables and ducting of underground
optic fibre cables for road-laying work. The cement concrete roads will
have 1.5 feet for ducting and telecom service providers will have to
increase the height of manholes.
The civic body’s
deadline for removal of advertisement hoardings and cables was extended
twice. However, the cables continue to be the biggest challenge to a
number of civic infrastructure works. The civic body will impose a fine
on agencies that use its space for laying cables without approval.