3 days ago
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike lifts ban on new OFC permissions amid revenue drive
Bengaluru: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has imposed a total penalty of Rs 47.2 crore on major telecom service providers for gross violations of optical fibre cable (OFC) installation norms across the city.
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More than 16 private firms were fined for unauthorised laying of cables, exceeding approved duct lengths, and other breaches of protocol. Additionally, another Rs 4.4 crore in penalties was imposed on various private agencies for laying OFCs without authorisation.
Despite these violations, BBMP has lifted its nearly two-year ban on issuing new OFC-laying permissions. Officials say this is both a regulatory and revenue-driven move, given the city's digital dependence.
"We aren't against digital infrastructure. But it must come with accountability. We've seen dangerous and illegal cabling all over Bengaluru — from trees, lamp posts, and across footpaths. Our intent now is to regularise this with strict fees and enforcement," a senior BBMP official said.
Over the past decade, telecom and internet providers have laid more than 15,000km of OFC across Bengaluru. This activity became a significant revenue stream for the civic body, with year-on-year income rising steadily — from Rs 6.8 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 162 crore in 2021-22.
Notably, the year 2016-17 saw a revenue of Rs 167 crore, while in 2014-15, it was Rs 137.6 crore. Even during the pandemic-hit 2020-21, the civic body collected Rs 77.3 crore from OFC-related permissions.
However, recent years have seen a dip, with just over Rs 3 crore collected in 2024-25 so far, thanks to the halt in new approvals.
Earlier, BBMP stopped granting permissions after freshly asphalted roads were dug up by telecom companies, triggering a public outcry.
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Potholes and footpath damage led to a blanket halt and even revocation of earlier permissions. "We've now reintroduced the OFC permission system with revised, stricter charges — Rs 600 per metre (for up to three ducts), Rs 3,000 for each OFC junction, and Rs 1,500 for junction boxes fixed to poles.
The telecom firms have agreed to these terms," added the official.
However, unauthorised practices remain rampant. Companies that obtained permission for 10km often ended up laying 80-100km of cable.
In many instances, after one company lawfully installed a duct, 3-4 others piggybacked on the same space without paying the civic body.
To avoid repeated road-cutting, BBMP constructed 130km of common ducts. But legal cabling was carried out in only 60km of ducts. The civic body sees this as a major loss in potential revenue. So far, revenue generated from OFC permissions has crossed Rs 1,129 crore.
Enforcement dilemma
BBMP has assigned ward-level engineers the task of removing unauthorised cables on local roads, while engineers from the infrastructure and planning divisions are tasked with action on arterial stretches.
However, implementation remains patchy. A senior official revealed the dilemma: "The same citizens who demand removal of cables complain about loss of internet the moment we act. This makes enforcement politically and operationally sensitive.
"
BBMP records also show that several companies have voluntarily regularised past cable-laying work, generating additional revenue of nearly Rs 162 crore.
BOX 1
PERMISSIONS & REVENUE
Year
OFC length (km)
Revenue collected (In Rs cr)
2012–13
71.3
6.8
2013–14
1,099.8
93.4
2014–15
2,978.6
137.6
2015–16
1,446.3
134.4
2016–17
2,105.5
167
2017–18
1,271.7
88.8
2018–19
1,177
100.8
2019–20
6,67.5
41.1
2020–21
1,057.4
77.3
2021–22
1,837.3
162
2022–23
1,138.3
104.9
2023–24
133.7
11.7
2024–25
22.9
3
Total
15,007
1,129
— Source: BBMP | Figures rounded off
BOX 2 (optional)
REGULATIONS & COMPLICATIONS
* Civic body lifts nearly two-year ban on new permissions, aiming to balance regulatory control with revenue generation
* Telecom providers have laid over 15,000km of OFC in Bengaluru over the past decade
* Despite new rules and stricter fees, unauthorised practices such as excessive cable laying and piggybacking on ducts persist
* Enforcement remains challenging as residents often complain about internet disruptions when cables are removed
