The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has slapped a fine of Rs 1.5 crore on Reliance Jio Infocomm for digging roads illegally to install 4G mobile towers across the city. The civic body has also threatened the company with dire consequences in case its repeats the offence.
According to civic officials, Reliance Jio Infocomm laid a cable of 177 metres at four places on Samantbhai Nanji Marg and P. D’Mello Road in B ward without seeking permission from the civic body. Taking a serious note of this, the BMC directed the ward officials to collect the fine by issuing a notice to the company.
Accordingly, the BMC has collected a fine of Rs 1.51 crore from the deposits of the company. The firm has also been told not to carry out road excavation works without proper permission, said a senior civic official.
BMC has received several complaints of illegal digging of city roads for the installation of 4G mobile towers. The damaged roads are causing traffic snarls and also inconvenience to people, said Opposition leader and Congress corporator Devendra Amberkar.
The civic body has allowed Reliance Jio Infocomm, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, to set up 4G mobile towers at more than 1,160 places in the city. However, at several places local residents have strongly opposed the installation.
