K Rajaraman, secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has urged state IT secretaries and DoT officers from head office and field units to ensure that there is no delay in granting of right of way (RoW) permissions. This move is crucial for faster broadband penetration across the country.
The telecom secretary stressed that there is a direct correlation between low broadband penetration and non-alignment of RoW rules in the same state/licensed service area (LSA).
Furthermore, Rajaraman directed all DoT field units to conduct monthly meetings with service providers to review application approval process and pendency, and also pursue the same with the state and municipal authorities.
Commenting on the move by the telecom secretary, Lt. Gen. Dr. S P Kochhar, director general, COAI, said, “We appreciate the initiatives of the telecom secretary to issue directions to DoT field units to conduct monthly meetings with service providers to review the application approval process and pendency. This will be helpful to expedite the RoW permissions to the telecom industry and hence the realisation of targets set under the ‘national broadband mission’. This is a very positive move towards making India digitally more advanced.”
