Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL) has given telecom companies and optical fibre cable operators seven working days to apply for approvals to install or regularise cables on 580 electricity poles along a key Ranchi route, warning that non-compliant and late cable networks will be dismantled.
The regularisation exercise covers poles from Kanke Road through Ram Mandir Chowk, Kishoreganj Chowk, Sahajanand Chowk and Harmu Chowk to Argora Chowk. Operators must submit applications and all required technical documents by October 31, according to Manmohan Kumar, general manager of the Ranchi supply area.
The directive applies to both existing cable networks and proposed installations. JBVNL has capped the number of cables at eight per pole to prevent overcrowding and protect the structural integrity of electricity infrastructure. If applications exceed the permitted capacity, preference may be given to the operator offering the highest rental charge, subject to technical feasibility, Kumar said.
Applications must specify the technical design, the exact number of cables proposed on each pole, cable dimensions, weight per unit length and the hardware required for installation. Operators must apply for the entire route covered by the exercise. Applications seeking approval for only selected poles will be rejected.
JBVNL has also prescribed safety and maintenance conditions. Cables must comply with applicable regulations, maintain a minimum ground clearance of 12 feet and be installed in an orderly manner. They must also be clearly tagged at regular intervals so that individual networks can be identified. Operators will be responsible for the cost of installation, including clamps, brackets and other supporting hardware.
Annual rentals and security deposits will be charged according to JBVNL norms. The utility said any cable that fails to meet the prescribed safety requirements may have to be rectified or removed. Cables belonging to operators that do not submit applications within seven working days will also be dismantled.
The move follows the removal of unauthorised cables by JBVNL after a Jharkhand High Court suo motu hearing in August concerning dangling wires in Ranchi. The latest process links continued use of electricity poles for telecom networks to technical disclosure, route-wide applications, rental payments and compliance with safety conditions.
JBVNL’s stated deadline for operators to submit applications is October 31. The utility’s next steps will depend on the applications received, technical feasibility, compliance with the prescribed standards and the number of operators seeking space on each pole.
