The Maharashtra cabinet has announced ‘Telecommunications Infrastructure Guidelines for Urban Local Bodies 2022’ to provide coverage, and increase tele density in urban areas.

The recent issued guidelines covers over ground and underground telecom infrastructure such as telecommunication infrastructure tower (TIT), ground base tower (GBT), roof top tower (RTT), roof top pole (RTP), cell phone tower (CPT), transmission towers, cell on wheels (COW), in building solution (IBS), micro cells etc.

Commenting on the announcement, T.R.Dua, director general, Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA), said, “Government of Maharashtra has been taking pro-active steps to realise the vision of Digital India programme in the State. DIPA and telecom infrastructure providers from time to time have highlighted the various issues which need to be resolved to ensure speedy augmentation of the telecom infrastructure in the state. These guidelines are surely going to pave the way for creation of robust telecommunication infrastructure in the state ensuring development of the urban areas and enhancing the quality of life of the citizens.”

Salient features of Maharashtra Telecom Infrastructure Guidelines for Urban Local Bodies, 2022

  • The Directorate of Municipal Administration of Urban Development Department will be the appropriate authority for the implementation of Telecom Guidelines within Urban Local Bodies.
  • These guidelines will come into force from the date of publication.
  • Validity of permission under these guidelines shall be coterminous with the telecom license period.
  • The guidelines shall be applicable to all telecom service provider (TSP) and IP (registered with Department of Telecommunications (DoT)).
  • Guidelines promotes the concept of infrastructure sharing para 11 sub para xiv
  • This policy covers over ground and underground telecom infrastructure such as TIT, GBT, RTT, RTP, CPT, transmission towers, COW, IBS, micro cells etc.
  • The concerned commissioner of MC/ chief officer of Municipal Council/ nagar panchayat / local self – government bodies shall be the appropriate authority in the areas under its jurisdiction.
  • Telecom Infrastructure (overground and underground) installed before the publication of these guidelines need to be registered themselves afresh. All existing telecom infrastructure towers or overground cable shall register before March 31, 2023 as per State Telecom Policy 2022. Formula used for calculating the fees for unauthorised towers will be

Number of years existing period of mobile towers × (Applicable fee for permission + Basic Property Tax (excluding penalty and interest)

Rebate on penalty will be granted if TSP/IP must withdraw any pending suit unconditionally. All ULB’s shall rationalise property tax and it should not be more than 15 per cent of annual rateable value. Same will be applicable from April 1, 2023. Previously security deposit has been collected shall be refunded or will be adjusted in property tax before March 31, 2023.

  • Every application needs to be applied through Gatishakti/ MahaSanchar Portal.
  • Policy contains provision of DLTC and SLTC for grievance redressal.
  • Policy contains provision of deemed approval (60 days).
  • No formal permission required for COW up to 30 days. Only intimation to the appropriate authority is required. Fees to be paid shall be maximum of 50 per cent of regular mobile towers.
  • Lease charges for pit/manhole shall be Rs 100 per annum in addition to annual lease charges as per the market rate of the area.
  • Guidelines promote laying of aerial fibre cable with one time administrative fee Rs 1,000 per kilometres, no charges for establishment of poles, for small cells and cable, on the immovable property vested in, or under control or management of appropriate central authority. Rs 1,000 per pole on immovable property other than under central government. Rental per pole per year Rs 100.
  • For installation of small cells on street furniture Rs 300 per pole per year in urban area and Rs 150 per pole per year in rural area.
  • Rs 10,000 one time administrative charges for all the areas and no charges for booster and small cells and telegraph lines. Other than one time charges development charges / scrutiny fee, etc. (if applicable) will as per UDCPR.
  • Rs 1,000 per kilometre for underground fibre cable. Other than one time charges if the restoration is done by the local authority, ground rent ranging from Rs 1 per meter per year to Rs 2 per meter per year is also fixed depending on the type of road construction . For each tunnel pit/manhole the rehabilitation charges of Rs 10,000 shall be levied. In case of self-restoration bank guarantee of 20 per cent of the sum required to restore the property.

Dua further added, “We also thank and applaud Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology; Devusinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Communications of India, DoT; National Broadband mission directorate for their continuous support and timely intervention.”