Mumbai BSES Telecom Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the power major BSES Ltd plans on seeking the government of Maharashtra's permission to lay optic fibre cable network in south Mumbai, in the event that it loses the Bombay Electric Suppy and Transport Ltd (BEST) contract. BEST had invited tenders for laying optic fibre cable in the south Mumbai area where it has its power transmission network, in which BTL had participated along with Reliance, Tata Electric Companies, Zee and Enron and three others.As a third alternative, the company is also talking to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for right of way.The reasons are pressing: South Mumbai is the city's business hub and therefore a proposition too lucrative for the company to ignore. "We are keeping our options open, including seeking the Maharashtra government's permission. The government permission will allow us to dig wherever in Mumbai we want to, should the BEST contract not materialise," a top company official told The Financial Express.
The final status on the BEST bid will be known by February, he added.The project involves laying some 1,200 route kilometers in south Mumbai, including Nariman Point, Cuffe Parade and Colaba areas. BTL so far has already laid some 450 route km in suburban Mumbai and has plans for another 1600 route km in the same area. Once BTL gets these areas, covered by BEST's power transmission network, it would have "fibred" practically the whole of Mumbai. The project, officials said, would comprise laying of about 200 km of primary core cable, 600-800 km of secondary cable and 200-400 km of last mile.
At Rs 15 lakh per route km in south Mumbai, the project, officials said, would cost Rs 180 crore.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
