Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation is drafting a new policy to regulate the city’s chaotic overhead cable network, taking cues from the Hyderabad model to improve safety and urban infrastructure.
According to officials, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being prepared to streamline how cables are installed, maintained, and monitored across the city. The move comes after the civic body temporarily halted its cable removal drive to create a more structured regulatory framework.
Key Features of the Proposed Policy
- Fixed height limits for overhead cables to reduce hazards
- Rental charges for operators installing independent poles
- Digital permission system for cable installations
- Citywide survey to map existing cable networks
- Gradual shift of cables underground at major junctions
The policy aims to tackle widespread issues such as unauthorised cable installations, safety risks, and visual clutter across Pune.
Focus on Safety and Urban Aesthetics
Officials said the primary objective is to enhance public safety and improve the city’s appearance, as hanging cables often pose risks of accidents and deface public spaces.
The civic body also plans to convert overhead cables into underground networks at key locations, including busy stretches like Palkhi Road, to create a more organised utility system.
Monitoring and Enforcement
To ensure smooth implementation, nodal officers from multiple agencies—such as PMC, police, MSEDCL, and MNGL—will oversee approvals and enforcement. An online portal is also being developed to streamline permissions, while a temporary single-window system will be used initially.
Authorities have warned that unauthorised cables could attract legal action, including penalties under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, along with possible criminal charges in case of negligence.
Bigger Picture
The move reflects a broader push by PMC to modernise urban infrastructure, reduce hazards, and bring accountability to cable operators in a city where thousands of kilometres of overhead wiring have grown in an unregulated manner.
If implemented effectively, the Hyderabad-inspired model could significantly improve Pune’s safety, aesthetics, and infrastructure management in the coming years.
