Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules 2021

Subject – Economy

Context – Amended telegraph right of way rules notified

Concept –

The government notified Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2021 to incorporate the provisions related to nominal one-time compensation and uniform procedure for establishment of overground telegraph line in the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016, and it has fixed a cap of ₹1,000 per km.
The amount of one-time compensation for establishment of overground telegraph line will be maximum ₹1,000 per km.
Documentation for RoW application for overground telegraph line has been made simple.
- In earlier notifications it was ₹1,000 only per km, but the State local municipalities have always objected they be charged more and demanded more for the compensation.
- And, earlier the RoW Rules had covered only underground optical fibre cable (OFC) and mobile towers.
The notification said there will also be no fee other than administrative fee and restoration charges for establishing, maintaining, working, repairing, transferring or shifting the underground and over ground telegraph infrastructure
The notification added that e-governance and financial inclusion will be strengthened, doing business will be easy, information and communication needs of citizens and enterprises will be fulfilled, and ultimately the dream of India’s transition to a digitally empowered economy and society will be translated into a reality.