1 week ago

Telangana Adopts Telecom Act and Right-of-Way Rules

Telangana will now follow India’s Telecommunications Act-2023 and Right of Way Rules-2024.

These rules explain how telecom companies can install and maintain networks on public land.

Government departments and local bodies must use one online portal to handle these requests.

BharatNet and other special telecom projects must receive the highest priority.

Public entities cannot charge certain fees for these projects on public property.

Telecom equipment will not be counted when calculating property taxes or other charges on the property.

Officials and contractors must use the Call Before u Dig app before starting excavation.

Damaging critical telecom infrastructure can lead to prison, fines, compensation and civil penalties.

The State government will monitor implementation through district and State-level committees.

Key facts

Legal framework: The Telecommunications Act-2023 and Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules-2024 apply in Telangana.
Online processing: All right-of-way applications, permissions and related communications must use the Telecom e-Services portal.
BharatNet status: BharatNet has been notified as a special project under the Right of Way Rules-2024.
Public-property charges: Public entities must not levy fees, charges, rent, annuity, bank guarantees or other financial contributions for notified special projects on public property.
Property taxation: Telecommunication networks cannot be included in property-tax, cess, fee or duty assessments on the property where they are installed.
Excavation procedure: The Call Before u Dig application is the sole platform for coordinating excavation activities in the State.
Infrastructure damage penalty: Damage to critical telecom infrastructure may result in imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to two crore rupees, or both, along with compensation and civil penalties.
Pending applications: Applications submitted up to March 31, 2026 should preferably be disposed of by September 30, 2026.

deccanchronicle.com · 3 years ago