NHAI, BSNL slug it out in public interest

NHAI, BSNL slug it out in public interest
Expansion Of Peenya-Nelamangala Highway Damages Utility Lines Of Telephone Agency
Prashanth G N | TNN

Bangalore: Infrastructure projects are often complex and result in a conflict of interest between organisations. Expansion of the Peenya-Nelamangala highway into four and six-lane carriageways has led to such a conflict between the NHAI and BSNL over protection of public interest, prompting BSNL to even lodge a complaint at the Peenya police station.
NHAI took up the project, intending to reduce the time taken to travel from Peenya to Nelamangala to just 15 minutes. In the process, thousands of BSNL telephone lines on either side of the highway in and around Peenya were damaged and the repairs would cost crores.
Senior NHAI officials told The Times of India that a national project for the people cannot be undertaken without some utilities being affected. “Where in the country doesn’t this happen? When we are told to make a six-lane highway, we have to naturally use machines to expand the road and in the process, utilities do get affected. We have understand that nothing is done deliberately,’’ an official said.
BSNL’s anger could be owing to the fact that while NHAI will compensate state bodies like BWSSB and Bescom to the tune of Rs 20 crore for shifting water, electricity and drainage lines, BSNL will not be similarly compensated.
NHAI officials say there is no provision in law to compensate for shifting of utilities of a central government organisation by another organisation undertaking public work.
“If there was such a provision and a precedent, we would have asked for the bills from BSNL straightaway,’’ officials said. As of now, BSNL has to bear the cost of digging land and shifting existing lines to a new location, as well as the revenue loss from hundreds of lines being disrupted. BSNL officials have drawn up a bill of approximately Rs 1.5 crore as cost for shifting thousands of cables. They have sent the bills to the telecom department, which will work it out with the Union road and transport ministry.
The highway work, that commenced in November 2007, has a timeframe of two years. Officials of both bodies are trying to work out an understanding until the ministries take a decision.
Peenya police are willing to bring about a mutual understanding.
“It is true that an FIR was registered here but we understand government organisations can’t act against each other. I believe NHAI and BSNL officials are meeting each other more often now. We are ready to foster a workable atmosphere,’’ police inspector Srinivas Reddy said.