City civic body to introduce ‘right of way’ policy

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 24

On the pattern of the Punjab Government, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has decided to introduce the “right of way” policy. 

The policy will be with regard to laying of optical fibre cables by telecom companies and others and for installation of related infrastructure. Under the policy, the MC will fix a one-time fee and annual lease amount for using MC land. 

The agenda in this regard will come up for approval of the MC General House at a meeting on February 28.

At present, the MC charges a nominal amount as “road cut fee” from the companies that lay underground cables or install poles and other infrastructure. In the policy, there will be fee or lease amount from Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000.

A senior MC official said under the policy, they would make a provision that the company concerned would have to obtain permission from the MC with a locality-wise map having detailed description of the location and methodology to be used for laying the cables. Besides, information regarding height of the pole or tower, the depth and length  of  trench and dimensions  (length,  width  and  depth)  of  land  required  for  laying cables would also have to be explained, he said.