Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Launches Crackdown on Hazardous Overhead Cables
The Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation is poised to implement urgent measures to address the growing menace of dangerously hanging and unused overhead cables across public roads. Citing escalating risks to public safety, the corporation has prepared a comprehensive proposal that outlines strict corrective actions to mitigate this long-standing issue.
Proposal for Immediate Intervention
A detailed proposal, presented by the town planning standing committee during a recent council meeting, will be placed before the corporation council for approval. This initiative seeks immediate intervention to tackle the problem of unscientific cable installations by telecom, cable TV, and internet service providers. These cables, often hanging at perilously low heights in numerous areas, pose serious hazards to pedestrians, motorists, and two-wheeler riders.
Several incidents have been reported where commuters suffered injuries after becoming entangled in low-hanging cables. The proposal emphasizes the corporation's statutory responsibility to ensure public safety and unhindered movement on roads, recommending a series of decisive interventions to address these concerns.
Emergency Survey and Tagging Mandate
As a first step, an emergency survey will be conducted across all 101 wards under the supervision of the engineering department. This survey aims to identify cables hanging below permissible heights, as well as those that are redundant or illegally installed. Following this, the proposal mandates the tagging of all cables within corporation limits.
Service providers will be required to tag each cable on every post within 15 days, adhering to Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) norms. This includes assigning a 13-digit identification code to each cable. Tagging will be incorporated into licence agreements, and any cable found without proper tagging will be treated as illegal. Corporation squads will remove such cables without prior notice.
Enforcement of Height Standards and Underground Shifting
To prevent future hazards, the corporation will enforce minimum height standards for overhead cables. Cables crossing main roads must be at least 5.8 meters above ground, while those along interior roads must be 5 meters above ground. If operators fail to comply, the corporation will remove non-compliant cables and recover the associated costs from the service providers.
In areas where underground ducts have been created under the Smart City project, overhead cables will no longer be permitted. Existing overhead cables on such roads must be shifted to these underground ducts within 15 days to enhance safety and aesthetics.
Monitoring and Penalties
A special monitoring task force will be established to oversee enforcement and compliance. This task force will comprise the city corporation secretary, representatives from KSEB and the police, as well as corporation engineers. Their role will be to ensure that all measures are implemented effectively and that service providers adhere to the new regulations.
The proposal also recommends imposing daily fines on non-compliant operators. In cases of continued non-compliance, the corporation may proceed with licence cancellation under the provisions of the Kerala Municipality Act. This stringent approach underscores the corporation's commitment to safeguarding public safety and maintaining orderly urban infrastructure.
By taking these proactive steps, the Thiruvananthapuram City Corporation aims to eliminate the dangers posed by hazardous overhead cables, ensuring safer roads for all residents and commuters.
