Pune metro to lease infrastructure for telecom services installation

In a bid to increase its non-fare revenue, the Pune Metro will lease out their metro stations and elevated route to telecom service providers for installing necessary infrastructure.

“The Pune metro rail is exploring all possible non-fare revenue sources to keep the fare low for the passengers.

The metro service has to be provided at affordable rates to ensure its maximum use by public,” said Hemant Sonawane, Executive Director of Pune metro rail.

He said the Pune metro rail has already laid fibre optics on its route for having best quality telecom connectivity for its operations and the extra bandwidth of the fibre optics will be leased out to those in need of it.

“Pune Metro network is passing through dense traffic area and prominent locations for having telecom connectivity band for mobile operators. It will provide value addition to the telecom industry by utilizing the already available space in Pune Metro network,” Sonawane said.

Thus, the Pune metro is allowing Over Head Equipment (OHE) masts for small cell system and leasing space on its buildings including metro station and depot for installation of telecom towers.

The 535 premises of OHE masts will be leased for 10 years and each premise will have maximum of three small cell antenna and one back haul link antenna.

It is offering space for installation of telecom tower on station building of the elevated section and depot buildings on lease and those interested will get right to install radio tower at station building for 20 years to augment mobile coverage and to lease services to telecom operators and non-telecom operators for other needs.

The Pune metro has undertaken initiative to capture revenue from real estate and other non-fare box revenues such as advertisements, co-branding and licensing of space.

Currently, the Pune metro service is on the North-South Corridor from PCMC to Shivajinagar to be extended to Swargate and East-West Corridor from Vanaz to Ruby Hall which would soon be extended to Ramwadi. Indian Express