Ranchi Municipal Corporation has reprimanded mobile service providers operating and maintaining the high-mast lights cum mobile towers across the State capital over poor maintenance of these multipurpose towers.
The urban local body had these towers established across the city to ensure well-lit streets and strong telephonic connectivity to the denizens, with the involved expenses entirely borne by the four telecommunication companies selected for the job – Airtel, Reliance Jio, ATC and Infratel.
These companies were allowed to install mobile antennas on these lED floodlights installed at 48 points in the city, in return of maintenance of these towers and some revenue to the civic body. The cost of upkeep of these towers and the electricity bills generated from them were to be paid by the selected companies, along with a certain amount to be paid to RMC, depending on the area the tower is located in.
The plan was to address two problems – bad cell reception and street lighting — at once, without putting its financial burden on RMC.
For the past fortnight or so, the lED lights on some of these towers were not working properly. Four of these towers — at RMC dumping yard on Harmu Bypass Road, Birsa bus terminal at Khadgarha, Nigam Park in Kanke near CM House and MECON Chowk – were reported to be malfunctioning, informed Nagendra Dubey, light Section In-charge, who is supervising this project on behalf of RMC.
All this points are crucial parts of the city and see significant traffic and crowds even late in night. Harmu Bypass Road and Birsa bus stand also have heavy vehicles passing even after regular traffic subsides.
“Initially, the mobile companies looking after these four towers were asked to rectify the problem, but they did not respond to our attempts to communicate. Following their non-responsiveness, a notice was sent to them, directing the companies to have the lED lights atop the high-mast towers within three days,” Dubey said.
Non-compliance on companies’ part will lead to termination of their allotment of mobile towers, he further added. The laid-back attitude towards the maintenance of lED lights will not be tolerated even if the mobile antennas with them work properly.
“The mobile antennas are working fine. The stipulated fees for the towers are also being submitted to RMC without delay. But if the companies are too easygoing about the lights, then we will be forced to take sever action against them,” Dubey stated.