Unregulated optical fibre cables threaten the lives of motorists

As the issues stemming from unregulated optical fibre cables along the roads have been discussed by the Greater Chennai Corporation Council, several councillors have taken the initiative to remove the cables in coordination with telecom companies.

Ward 142 councillor and zonal committee chairman M. Krishnamurthy, who demanded regulation of optical fibre cables at the council meeting, said that after several councillors highlighted the issue, the Mayor had promised to regulate the laying of the cables to improve aesthetics and prevent accidents.

“The Corporation engineers and representatives of cable companies held a meeting and removed the cables. But the situation remains the same as the demand from residents for new connections is high. Most of the residents need optical fibre for communication. We need to regulate it,” he said.

Drive at Anna Nagar

Ward 104 councillor T.V. Shemmozhi launched a drive last week for the removal of cables at Anna Nagar, with the support of all private telecom companies. Work was under way on various roads, including Anna Nagar 13th Main Road, as of Sunday.

J. Padmanabhan, a representative of the service-providers, said some service-providers who had quit the business because of challenging conditions left the cables dangling.

Velachery resident S. Kumararaja said the internet and cable television service-providers would fix the cables on the street light poles to cut cost. “The cables are snapped by lorries, while motorcycle-riders run the risk of being trapped and injured. It is more dangerous than maanja, which has been banned for use in flying kites following injuries to motorists. I have seen cows and dogs trapped in the cables. The trapped animals get agitated and they pose a threat to passers-by. Once I myself was hooked to a dangling cable while riding a two-wheeler. I fell down but I suffered no injury,” he said.

Pointing to the disruption of telecommunication services during natural disasters such as cyclones and floods, residents stress the need for better coordination between the government and the service- providers. During the floods, residents complained that they did not get internet or phone service because of poor infrastructure. The residents in many zones were unable to contact the civic officials or call 1913 to highlight civic issues.

Residents have demanded that the local body construct a dedicated duct for optical fibre cables, with funding from the Government of India, as the service-providers claim that the Centre has permitted them to lay the cables.

Geetha Ganesh, secretary of AGS Colony Residents’ Welfare Association, Velachery West, said the internet and optical fibre cables must use one common pole and not street light poles and trees on the roadside. “The haphazardly hanging cables are an eyesore and pose a threat to vehicle-users and pedestrians. Singara Chennai 2.0 must focus on curbing this menace. The GCC must not rely on the income from the use of street light poles and trees for running the cables,” she said.

“They can charge every common single fabricated pole for all internet service-providers, which will have a common design across the city for a more aesthetic look of arterial roads and streets. Another major issue is that the Corporation issues approval and ward officials are unaware of it. The companies get approval for erecting a few poles, but they install more poles, a violation that goes unnoticed,” she pointed out.

Meeting sought

The councillors said the Corporation should convene a meeting of the service-providers and get them to use a common pole.

Disaster management expert and former Chennai Corporation engineer N. Mathavan said overhead cables of telecom companies were posing a threat to people. “There is no framework to regulate such networks. Of late, many companies lay their cables criss-crossing the streets without any regard for public safety. It is the responsibility of the local government to get the telecom companies to secure their networks,” he said.

Bala Chander, an employee of a telecom company, said the cost would increase by more than 300% if the cables were laid underground. As the infrastructure in Indian cities had not improved, the Government of India allowed overhead cables and the local bodies could do nothing, he said.

Karnataka model

Anna University’s former professor of urban engineering K.P. Subramanian said that whenever a meeting was convened to discuss the issues arising out of the cables, the operators would claim that they had permission from the Central government to use public property and poles.

“Cables are hanging haphazardly, impeding free flow of vehicles. They are carelessly strewn across roads and even footpaths. They can be fatal. The Urban Development Department of Karnataka has issued a draft policy to regulate all cables at public places: the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Regulation of Cable Laying) Rules, 2015. Under this, it is mandatory to obtain a licence from municipal corporations, no inconvenience should be caused to people, no communication cables should be mounted on electrical poles, the eco-system and aesthetics of the area should be taken into consideration, and the sag of cables should not interfere with the movement of vehicles,” he said.