BBMP, Bescom lock horns over use of OFC duct

Even as both Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) struggle to get all cable operators to lay only legal Optical Fibre Cables (OFC), BBMP has written to Bescom, asking the electricity supply company to ensure that it pays the civic body its share of the OFC cable fee if Bescom plans to rent out or lease out UG ducts to private companies.

In a letter to Bescom, the BBMP Chief Commissioner pointed out that the ownership of all roads and basic amenities provided on the roads is under the supervision of BBMP, according to the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1976.

“The fee collected by permitting the laying of OFC cables ranges between Rs 125 crore and Rs 250 crore a year. If Bescom decides to rent out, lease, or receive a one-time payment to lay OFC cables in their ducts, it should ensure that BBMP’s fees are paid,” the letter said.

A senior BBMP official privy to the discussions said that BBMP would not levy any additional charge if Bescom were to use it to lay power cables. “However, if they want to give it out, they will have to pay us as per the set norms,” the official said.

While Bescom had earlier said that it was looking for agencies to fix the price and rent out the OFC ducts, well-placed sources in Bescom said that the decision was being reconsidered.

“The discussions are still on,” the official said.

Nearly three years ago, when Bescom took up the project to convert overhead cables to underground cables, the company also laid underground ducts that could be used by private companies to lay their lines. However, so far, the ducts have remained unused since no private company has come forward to utilise them.