Recently, the Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communications introduced the Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022. This initiative is part of the Central government’s broader vision to meet the communication requirements of citizens and businesses by establishing a robust, secure, accessible, and affordable Digital Communications Infrastructure and Services.
Understanding the Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022
As per the new rules, any individual planning to legally dig or excavate a property that could potentially harm the telegraph infrastructure must notify the licensee. The person carrying out the excavation is required to follow the safety measures suggested by the licensee. If any damage occurs to the telegraph infrastructure due to digging or excavation, the concerned person will be held responsible for compensating the telegraph authority.
Once asset owner agencies list their assets along with Geographic Information System (GIS) coordinates on the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP) platform, it will be possible to identify the presence of underlying utility assets at the desired excavation site prior to starting the work.
Benefits of the New Rules
The introduction of these new rules has several advantages. Notably, they can prevent unnecessary damage and associated restoration costs to various utilities, consequently saving a considerable amount for businesses and reducing tax losses for the government. They can also decrease the inconvenience caused to citizens due to frequent service disruptions, thanks to the improved collaboration between different agencies.
About PM GatiShakti – National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity
The main objective of PM GatiShakti is to facilitate the integrated planning and execution of infrastructure projects over the next four years, with a focus on hastening ground works, cost saving, and job creation. The plan also aims to cut down logistics costs, boost cargo handling capacities, and reduce turnaround time at ports to stimulate trade.
By 2024-25, the government anticipates having extended the national highway network to 200,000 km, in addition to establishing over 200 new airports, heliports and water aerodromes.
Six Pillars of PM Gati Shakti
PM Gati Shakti is built on six pillars: Comprehensiveness, Prioritization, Optimization, Synchronization, Analytical, and Dynamic.
These pillars work together to ensure all existing and upcoming initiatives from various Ministries and Departments are included in one central portal, allowing for transparency and data sharing during project planning and execution. Different departments can prioritize their projects via cross-sectoral discussions. This NM Plan will assist different ministries in project planning by identifying critical gaps.
Gati Shakti also focuses on high levels of coordination between various Ministries and Departments along with synchronization of activities for efficient project implementation. The platform features GIS-based spatial planning and analytical tools, allowing better visibility for executing agencies. The dynamic nature of the platform allows for continuous review, monitoring, and advancement of cross-sectoral projects.
Creation of Gati Shakti Digital Platform
The Gati Shakti Digital Platform is a common platform made to efficiently plan and implement infrastructure projects by coordinating between various ministries and departments in real-time. It works as a digital platform bringing together 16 ministries including Railways and Roadways.
