G.O.Ms. No. 9, Use of Public Right of Way by Public / Private Licensed Basic Telecom Companies, 2002
The Information Technology Department issued G.O.Ms. No. 9, dated 4 July 2002, requiring every district to form a High Level Committee under the District Collector to monitor and coordinate optic fibre cable digging and restoration by licensed public and private basic telecom operators. The committees must meet every fortnight, and District Collectors must send fortnightly reports to the Government.
What the government order does
G.O.Ms. No. 9 of the Information Technology Department, dated 4 July 2002, creates a district-level system for supervising the rollout of optic fibre cable networks. It follows an earlier government order that issued consolidated guidelines regulating the use of public rights of way for laying optic fibre cable in Tamil Nadu.
The Government found that better monitoring and coordination were needed among the agencies involved in district-level cable work. The new institutional arrangement is intended to oversee both road digging and the restoration that follows.
District High Level Committees
G.O.Ms. No. 9 requires a High Level Committee to be constituted in every district under the District Collector. Each committee must include officials representing:
- The relevant local body.
- The Police.
- The Highways authorities.
The committee must meet every fortnight to monitor and coordinate the rollout plan for the optic fibre cable network in its district. District Collectors must also submit fortnightly reports to the Government for review.
Digging and road restoration responsibilities
G.O.Ms. No. 9 records the restoration arrangements contained in the earlier consolidated guidelines:
- In areas other than State Highways and National Highways, the telecom firm laying the optic fibre cable must carry out restoration at its own cost.
- That restoration must follow standards prescribed by the Highways Department.
- Where State Highway or National Highway roads are dug for laying optic fibre cable, the Highways Department must undertake the restoration work departmentally and according to the prescribed standards.
Who is affected
G.O.Ms. No. 9 directly affects licensed public and private basic telecom companies using public rights of way to install optic fibre cable. It also assigns monitoring, coordination and reporting responsibilities to District Collectors, local bodies, Police and Highways officials.
For property buyers and owners, the document concerns public rights of way and road restoration connected with telecom cable work. It does not set out any rule for laying cable across privately owned land, nor does it describe compensation or consent requirements for private property.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Who supervises optic fibre cable digging in each district?
A High Level Committee under the District Collector supervises and coordinates the work. It includes officials from the local body, Police and Highways authorities.
Who must repair roads after optic fibre cable is laid?
Outside State Highways and National Highways, the telecom firm must restore the area at its own cost and follow Highways Department standards. For State Highway and National Highway roads, the Highways Department undertakes the restoration departmentally.
How often must the district committee review the work?
The High Level Committee must meet every fortnight. The District Collector must also send a fortnightly report to the Government.
Does G.O.Ms. No. 9 authorise telecom companies to use private land?
The document addresses the use of public rights of way for optic fibre cable. It does not state rules for access to privately owned land.
