NDMC tables revised tower policy

For better telecom services, high-speed internet connectivity and minimising call drops, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) tabled a revised cellular tower policy in its council’s meeting on Wednesday.

“Though we had plans to approve all important proposals on Wednesday itself, it couldn’t be done due to the disruption of the meeting. We are expecting to get all proposals cleared in the next meeting on May 24,” said an official.

The long-pending policy deals with installation of communication towers by cellular and basic telecom operators on the rooftop/ground base of a complex in the NDMC areas and covers all upcoming and already regularised towers. It even has provisions for regularising 253 illegally installed towers after fulfilling the norms. The proposals include increasing the fees for each tower from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, the penalty on delay or illegal installations, and the minimum distance between two towers.

“Based on the advisory guidelines issued by the Union telecommunication department and after considering all connected factors and public feedback, NDMC has finalised the policy,” said an official. A meeting was also held on April 17 with industry representatives. “Once approved, it will replace NDMC’s tower policy for 2016, which doesn’t have any provision for regularising illegal towers,” he added.

CT Bureau