The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to introduce a Geographical Information System (GIS)-based optical fibre cable (OFC) tracking and monitoring mechanism to check the huge loss of revenue it is suffering due to non-payment of road digging charges.
The BBMP’s proposal to collect rent from telecom firms for the OFCs laid is presently before the High Court. The new system will also help the Palike ensure proper collection of rents, once the same is approved by the court.
The BBMP is also mulling over a tie-up with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which is also working on a GIS-based sewerage and water pipeline tracking system to avoid damages to them during the execution of infrastructure projects.
The Palike has been under pressure from its elected body and citizens to tap the potential revenue from the telecom firms, which have laid OFCs by paying an insignificant amount as compared to huge profits they are making.
Palike sources said that the haphazard way of laying cables has badly damaged utilities such as roads, pavements, electricity lines, drains and the water supply system. Presently, the BBMP does not have a foolproof system for tracking and monitoring the OFC laying works by the telecom firms.
New system
The Palike has envisaged to develop an online IT application and to automate the process. The Palike intends to have a GIS-based OFC monitoring system linked to the online IT application. The system employs value-added GIS technology such as alarm testing, controlling, database and operation. It combines the monitoring and maintenance comprehensively. It targets spatial geographic location and associated attributes.
The fusion of spatial and attribute data from the geographic reality in terms of resource object query, retrieval, statistics and analysis, results in the image expressed in visual form for maintenance, analysis and provides important support for the decision-making platform.
The Palike intends to have a hassle-free application system where the telecom operators can apply online for laying OFCs. It provides a GIS map details of the project site to carry out necessary field verification by the BBMP engineer of the ward or division concerned. The ‘single-window system’ integrates with e-payment gateway for payments by applicants.
It also provides for escalation matrix at various levels with date and time intervals. This system offers online road digging approval management. It also assists local engineers to provide details on how to dig the roads to provide utilities at household levels without damaging the OFCs.