<p>At least five government agencies received the BBMP’s consent to dig up a total of 315 km of roads for laying underground utilities in various parts of the city in the last two years. </p>.<p>As the restoration of dug-up roads was taking a longer time, the civic body stopped collecting charges for fixing the dug-up road, putting the onus on the agency itself. </p>.<p>Official records show the BBMP approved the digging up of 303 km of roads in as many as 43 places last year.</p>.<p>It collected road restoration charges of Rs 44.51 crore.</p>.<p>This financial year, the BBMP has approved the digging up of 12.10 km of roads covering 29 places. </p>.<p>Officials said they had restricted giving approvals this year as the condition of roads was already pathetic. </p>.<p>Bulk of the requests has come from agencies such as BWSSB, Bescom and GAIL India. The BBMP is also flooded with similar requests from OFC operators.</p>.<p>Officials, however, said the 5G broadband cellular network does not require the digging up of roads.</p>.<p>“We have been getting requests to install small towers after the 5G technology was introduced,” an official said. </p>
<p>At least five government agencies received the BBMP’s consent to dig up a total of 315 km of roads for laying underground utilities in various parts of the city in the last two years. </p>.<p>As the restoration of dug-up roads was taking a longer time, the civic body stopped collecting charges for fixing the dug-up road, putting the onus on the agency itself. </p>.<p>Official records show the BBMP approved the digging up of 303 km of roads in as many as 43 places last year.</p>.<p>It collected road restoration charges of Rs 44.51 crore.</p>.<p>This financial year, the BBMP has approved the digging up of 12.10 km of roads covering 29 places. </p>.<p>Officials said they had restricted giving approvals this year as the condition of roads was already pathetic. </p>.<p>Bulk of the requests has come from agencies such as BWSSB, Bescom and GAIL India. The BBMP is also flooded with similar requests from OFC operators.</p>.<p>Officials, however, said the 5G broadband cellular network does not require the digging up of roads.</p>.<p>“We have been getting requests to install small towers after the 5G technology was introduced,” an official said. </p>