The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on August 25, 2022, notifies that the Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules, 2022 will further amend the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016.
The amendments are as follows-
•In the opening paragraph of the Act, the brackets, and words (optical fiber) and (mobile towers and telegraph line) shall be omitted.
•In rule 2 which states Definitions, in sub-rule (1), after clause (g), the following clause shall be inserted, namely: (h) Schedule means a Schedule appended to these rules.
•In rule 4 which states Nodal officer to be designated by the local authority, etc, for sub-rule (2) Every application for permission under these rules shall be made by the licensee on an electronic portal developed by the Central Government shall be substituted.
• In rule 5 which is Application by a licensee, in sub-rule (3), in the proviso, for the words ―one thousand rupees per kilometer, the words ―the amount specified in Part-I of the Schedule shall be substituted.
•In rule 6 which states Grant of permission by appropriate authority, (a) after sub-rule (1), the following sub-rules shall be inserted, namely -
(1A) The area of the underground telegraph infrastructure proposed to be established shall be the length of duct multiplied by the diameter of the duct multiplied by the number of the ducts.
Explanation. - duct means a pipe, permanently lubricated or of any other kind, used as underground cable conduit for the telegraph line.
(1B) The appropriate authority shall be entitled to receive such compensation from the licensee, not exceeding the amount specified in Part-III of the Schedule, for the use of the property under which the underground telegraph infrastructure is proposed to be established, as may be determined by the appropriate authority.
•After rule 10 which states Grant of permission by an appropriate authority, the rule “10A. Usage of street furniture for installation of small cells and telegraph line” and “10B. Establishment of telegraph infrastructure over private property” shall be inserted.
•After rule 14, the Schedule shall be inserted.
They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette
[Notification No. G.S.R. 635(E)]
