Past Pages for Dec. 28-Dec. 31, 2024
Kolkata: More than a year after underground cable TV ducts were laid at five stretches of Alipore in south Kolkata to remove the clutter of wires across lamp posts, they remain unused as multi-system operators (MSOs) have refused to lay their cables through them due to the high ‘access fee' demanded by the KMC. While the civic authorities have demanded Rs 20 per metre for laying the wires, they stipulated that the fee must be paid for 15 years at one go. At a meeting between the civic authorities and MSOs in Oct, the former warned the MSOs that their overhead cables would be pulled down if they were not shifted to the ducts. MSOs and cable operators have pointed out that while the access fee could run into several crores for some of the bigger MSOs, the cable TV trade, already facing a severe challenge from the OTT platforms, may not survive a decade and a half in its present form. Several stretches across central and north Kolkata, too, were supposed to have underground ducts, but they are yet to be laid. The move was prompted by a prod from chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who pointed out that the clutter of wires across Kolkata's skyline was leading to visual pollution. In 2022, the first underground duct was laid under Harish Mukherjee Road, which was freed of the overhead wires. "Before pujas, the KMC held a meeting with us and gave an ultimatum to shift our cables underground at the five stretches. But ever since, no move has been made, and neither has the KMC responded to our requests for lowering the access fee," said Vijay Agarwal, MD of GTPL-KCBPL, one of the leading MSOs. "We had a meeting with KMC earlier this year and requested them to lower the fee and reduce the period of payment since it is a huge financial burden on MSOs and cable operators. It will have to be passed on to subscribers who will never agree to it since cable TV now has a strong alternative in OTT. The city has lost more than 50,000 subscribers since channel prices started going up four years ago," said Tapash Das, convenor of the All Bengal Cable TV & Broadband Operators' United Forum. MSOs have sought a meeting with the KMC and have asked for the fee to be reduced to Rs 10 per metre. At the KMC decided rate, MSOs must pay Rs 20,000 for every km per year or Rs 3 lakh for 15 years. "This comes to an exorbitant Rs 45 lakh for every kilometre of cable which has to be paid now for 15 years. At the Alipore area alone, we need to lay around 12 km of cable, which takes the total cost to several crores. This will not be feasible for us as there could be further technological changes in the next 15 years which may turn many of these cables redundant," said Suresh Sethia, director of SitiCable, the largest MSO in Kolkata. Local cable operators, too, are wary of the KMC fees, which they feel could be detrimental to the trade. While KMC is constructing the primary duct, sub-ducts and access points are being created by the MSOs, internet service providers (ISPs), and telecom operators, who will share the ducts. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Christmas updates: Bethlehem hosts subdued celebrationsSchool district defends decision to punish parents for wearing pink 'XX' wristbands
