Despite owning its own OFC network, AMC still pays for internet

14 Apr 2023 CW Team

The local authority spent Rs 230 million six years ago laying a 180 km long optical fibre cable (OFC) network for high-speed internet and intelligent traffic control along the arterial road and BRTS corridor network in Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) might make money for its Smart City plan by leasing out the specialised OFC network to a commercial company. Although the civic body has its own OFC, the irony in this situation is that it only uses a small portion of its bandwidth and completely relies on the services of commercial ISPs to meet the internet requirements of its many zonal offices. The AMC spends thousands of dollars annually on these private services.

For the past two years, the AMC-run Smart City Corporation has issued two tenders to gauge interest in its optical fibre network from potential buyers. Yet until date, nothing has materialised. The tenders were floated for the third time this month as well. For instance, consider the AMC headquarters in Danapith, which is close to the BRTS corridor. A senior AMC official said that a state- owned telecom business also provides internet services here. He continued, "We're waiting for the bids to open on May 1.

The AMC has proposed around 70 projects totaling Rs 55.74 billion to be undertaken as part of the Smart City concept in 2015. Just 54 of these have been finished, with the rest still ongoing. The IT services of the BRTS make the best use possible of the current OFC network. According to AMC authorities, just 40% of the OFC network is used at its maximum.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..