PMC decreases road digging charges for laying power cables

To end the dispute between the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) over the road and pavement digging charges for laying electricity cables,the PMC standing committee on Tuesday decided to decrease the charges from Rs 2,600 to Rs 2,100 per metre.

To end the dispute between the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) over the road and pavement digging charges for laying electricity cables,the PMC standing committee on Tuesday decided to decrease the charges from Rs 2,600 to Rs 2,100 per metre.

The power utility had objected to the new rates decided by the civic body. This would have hampered MSEDCLs infrastructure project undertaken to replace electric overhead wires with underground electricity cables, said Vishal Tambe,chairperson of the standing committee.

He said the proposal to reduce the rates was tabled by the elected representaitves to ensure the MSEDCL project is not stalled. The civic administration has given its consent to the new rates, said Tambe,adding that the civic body had increased the rates to Rs 2,000 per meter last year but later brought down to Rs 1,500 per meter.

The standing committee chairperson clarified that the changed rate for digging will be applicable only to MSEDCL.

Few months ago,the civic administration had highlighted the increased expenditure incurred in repairing the roads and pavements dug for laying cables by utility services. The administration had proposed to increase the digging rates which were approved by the standing committee and general body. The MSEDCL had registered their opposition to such a move.

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