Centre Acts to Prevent Damage to Underground Utilities During Telecom Cable Laying: Scindia

Why It Matters

Preventing utility damage curtails service interruptions and costly repairs, accelerating the nation’s broadband expansion and protecting public infrastructure investments.

Key Takeaways

• RoW Rules 2024 set utility protection standards
• CBuD app mandated for excavation coordination
• Punjab requires CBuD use across departments
• Utilities to be mapped on PM GatiShakti platform
• Compensation process established for damaged assets

Pulse Analysis

The 2024 Telecommunication (Right of Way) Rules represent a pivotal regulatory shift, granting public agencies the authority to stipulate conditions for telecom infrastructure projects and to seek compensation when underground assets are harmed. By embedding utility protection directly into the right‑of‑way framework, the government aligns telecom expansion with broader public service safeguards, reducing legal disputes and fostering a more predictable investment climate.

Central to this initiative is the Call Before u Dig (CBuD) mobile application, now compulsory for excavation activities across states. Punjab’s February 2025 notification exemplifies the model, requiring all departments—from public works to water utilities—to log planned digs on the platform. Simultaneously, the directive to integrate utility maps into the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan creates a unified, real‑time geospatial database, enhancing coordination among telecom firms, contractors, and asset owners and dramatically lowering the risk of inadvertent damage.

For the telecom sector, these measures translate into faster deployment timelines, reduced downtime, and lower remediation costs. Operators can plan routes with confidence, knowing that utility owners have been notified and that compensation mechanisms are clearly defined. Moreover, the alignment with the GatiShakti agenda underscores the government's commitment to a coordinated, digital‑first infrastructure ecosystem, positioning India to meet its ambitious broadband and smart‑city goals more efficiently.