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.
