INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

G.O.(Ms) No.7                                                                                               Dated:12-02-2001

Read:

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ORDER:

         In the Government Order first read above, guidelines specifying the terms and conditions for the grant of centralised permission for the use of public right of way by any private or public sector applicant that proposes to lay Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) along the National and State Highways and other roads in the State of Tamil Nadu, were issued.

         2. In the Government Letters (Ms) second and third read above, certain amendments were issued to the said guidelines and a set of consolidated general guidelines were  later issued in the Govt.Order fourth read above, incorporating  these amendments.

         3.  In his letter fifth read above, the Chief Engineer, National Highways has brought to the notice of the Government  that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Govt. of India has issued certain guidelines to be followed regarding laying of OFC in National Highways land and these guidelines are required to be incorporated in the general guidelines  of   this   Government.  

               He has also sent a draft amendment in this regard for approval of the Government .  The Government, after examination, have decided to incorporate suitable amendments to the  existing consolidated guidelines in this regard  and  to issue a revised set of consolidated general guidelines for the sake of convenience.

         4.  Accordingly, the Government issue a revised consolidated general guidelines  specifying the terms and conditions  for the grant of centralised permission to use the public right of way for laying Optic Fibre Cables in the National and State Highways and other roads in Tamil Nadu, as in the Annexure to this order.

         5.  Applicants, who find acceptable to the general terms and conditions specified in the annexure will have to apply to the Government of Tamil Nadu  in Information Technology Department. The Information Technology Department will process such applications in consultation with Municipal Administration & Water Supply, Highways and  other relevant  Government Departments,  specify  such other conditions as may be necessary in public interest, and accord centralised permission for use of the public right of way in the locations identified by the applicants.

         6. These revised consolidated guidelines are also applicable to all applicants who have been accorded centralised permission so far.

(BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR)

ANNEXURE

REVISED CONSOLIDATED GUIDELINES FOR GRANT OF PERMISSION TO PRIVATE  AND PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS FOR USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY FOR LAYING OPTIC FIBRE CABLES IN TAMIL NADU

Scope

1.                  Permission  will relate to the use of the public right of way along National Highways, State Highways, other roads under Highways Department, roads within  urban areas in Town Panchayats, Municipalities and Municipal Corporations.

2.                  The permission will be on a non-exclusive basis.

            Annual Track Rent

3.       For use of public right of way in para 1 above, the applicants have to pay annual track rent to the respective  local bodies at the rates fixed by the Government in Revenue department from time to time.  The latest rates prescribed in Revenue Department G.O.Ms.No.172, dated 28-3-2000 are as follows:

             (i)  Village Panchayats                        Rs.4400   per km per year 
                  inclusive of local cess and 
                  local surcharge

            (ii)    Town Panchayats/                       Rs.5500   per km per year
                  Municipalities                  

             (iii) Corporations of  Madurai,          Rs.6300   per km per year      Salem, Coimbatore,      Tiruchirappalli and   Tirunelveli

         (iv)        Corporation of Chennai   Rs.9400  per km per year

The above rates are subject to revision once in three years.  

            Urban Areas

4.     (i)           Any   service    provider   has  to,  as  per   existing   procedure, get   the   permission   of   the local  body  concerned    for   cutting    the   road   surface.    However, considering the importance of establishing the vital infrastructure of optic fibre cable communication in the State and with a view to expedite the process of applying each time to the local body for permission and obtaining the same, Government has decided to give centralised   permission  for cutting of roads of urban / local   bodies  for installtion of optic fibre cables. However, the detailed guidelines indicated below must be followed by all individuals / associations or Companies intending to instal underground optic fibre cables in urban areas.

        (ii)         Trenchless excavation method shall be followed to the extent possible.

5. All restitution work within the urban areas including Town Panchayats, Municipalities and Municipal Corporations shall be carried out by the applicants  at their own cost. Therefore, applicants   are not required to pay any restitution charges to the urban authorities concerned.  The restitution work should be carried out by the applicants as per the technical standards prescribed by Corporation of Chennai.  These standards should be followed by other local bodies also.  The Commisioners of Municipal Administration and Town Panchayats will obtain the details of technical standards adopted by Corporation of Chennai for the restitution work and communicate them to all the local bodies under their control.  The applicants are required to give 6 months guarantee for the restitution work done by them.  If any damage is caused to the road so restituted, the applicants  should carry out the work again at their cost to the satisfaction of the local bodies.

6.  A guidance committee under the Chairmanship of the Commissioner of the local body concerned will be constituted with members comprising of an official from TWAD  Board (or) CMWSSB, TNEB, Telecom department and a representative of the applicant for ensuring effective co-ordination at the field level.  This Committee will meet once a month while the work is in progress, to discuss and solve the problems if any, in getting co-operation of various departments.

7.  The applicant will submit a list of roads proposed for laying OFCs to the local bodies.  The Commissioner of the local body concerned will examine the list, and if for any reason considers that any specific road is to be deleted from the list, the applicant will lay the OFC in the alternative road suggested.

8.  The applicant should give prior information to the relevant  Traffic and Transport department officials while undertaking the cable laying work on roads to enable diversion or regulation of traffic.  During the progress of work, the Police department (Traffic) shall be consulted on a daily basis.  Even before the work is started, ‘Caution-cum-information’ boards shall be positioned by the applicants on both ends of the road. 

9. When OFC work is done on roads, the  applicant should take preventive steps to ensure that no accidents take place.  The applicant is liable to pay compensation amount to the departments/local bodies concerned for any accident that is  caused.

10. In case of all excavations to a  depth of  more than 1.5 metres, the holes shall be covered appropriately on both sides to avoid soil erosion.  Manholes shall be covered on all the four sides using corrugated sheets or equivalent product.  These sheets shall be painted in red colour.