Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has extended the deadline for cable and broadband operators to seek formal permission for overhead networks till June 30. The decision follows a dismal response to the initial June 15 cut-off, by which time only one operator had submitted an application.The civic body had previously warned that any overhead infrastructure failing to register within the stipulated timeframe would be classified as unauthorised and subject to removal or legal action.“Only one operator has submitted the required documents so far, while three others have approached us to understand the registration process,” said Mahesh Kawale, executive engineer at PCMC.Currently, the civic administration lacks an official database of cable and broadband providers as they are not registered with any municipal department. However, industry estimates suggest the problem is widespread. “Operators who visited us for inquiries estimate there are between 400 and 500 providers operating across Pimpri Chinchwad,” Kawale added.The push for regulation gained momentum after several corporators raised safety concerns during a general body meeting. The urgency follows a tragic incident in the Nigdi-Pradhikaran area, where a woman reportedly died after becoming entangled in a low-hanging cable.To bring order to the currently unregulated network, the civic body is drafting a standard operating procedure (SOP). This framework, based on a 2024 state government resolution regarding regularisation of overhead cables, will govern the installation and maintenance of all such networks.Kawale noted that the SOP is expected to be finalised within two weeks. Once approved by the municipal commissioner, it will serve as the official framework for all cable television and broadband service providers.Under the new policy, the PCMC’s licence department will act as the nodal authority for issuing permits. The regularisation is a transitional step; once registered, operators will eventually be required to migrate their services to the underground optical fibre cable (OFC) infrastructure developed under the Smart City Mission.
