BMC will not allow mobile towers at open spaces, gardens

The civic body standing committee has passed a mobile tower policy, which prohibits installation of towers at open spaces on Wednesday. Besides, mobile companies will now have to pay an installation fee of Rs 50,000 for a period of five years. Earlier, there was no such fee.

According to the new BMC policy, mobile towers will not be allowed to come up at open amenity spaces, playgrounds, recreational grounds, gardens, parks and other such spaces. In an attempt to limit the number of base stations, a base station erected by one company can be used by others.

The mobile companies who were not charged any fees for the installation of towers earlier, will now have to pay Rs 50,000 for each tower for a period of five years.

While the civic body has allowed installation of towers, base stations and micro cells on municipal and BEST buildings as well as private plots and buildings, they will not be allowed within the three metres area of hospitals, schools, colleges, traffic islands, gardens, recreational grounds, heritage structures and playgrounds.

However, the civic body has also decided not to charge development fees on the terrace of buildings as they do not have construction area for the installation of equipments.

In case of municipal land and building premises the area required for installation of equipment has been earmarked at maximum 5x20 square metre.

“The BMC did not get any revenue from the towers installed by mobile companies. The new policy will be applicable to all mobile companies in the city,” said additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh.