Ministry eases rules to speed up laying of fibre optic cables

03 Aug 2022 CW Team

To speed up the laying of telecom and optical fibre cables, the transport ministry has relaxed provisions related to clearances required from the Highway Administration. It has now been decided to dispense with the need for mentioning various safety clearances, and the application shall only mention details regarding license from telecom authorities.

Prior to this, the applicant had to mention details of various safety clearances from authorities such as Directorate of Electricity, Chief Controller of Explosives, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, Oil Industry Safety Directorate, and State/Central Pollution Control Board, among others.

The need for putting applications in the public domain and seeking claims and objections on grounds of public inconvenience while laying underground optical fibre and telecom cables within the Right of Way (RoW) area of National highways is also being done away with.

“Applications for optical fibre or telecom cables need to be processed expeditiously and approval must be given within 30 days,” the Transport Ministry order said. It was earlier specified that an approval shall be deemed to be granted if there are no objections and claims to the proposed cables.

Building Material

18 Sep 2025

Birla Corporation Plans Cement Expansion and Strategic Diversification

Birla Corporation Limited, the flagship firm of the M P Birla Group, plans to consolidate its cement operations while pursuing meaningful diversification. Speaking at the company’s AGM, Chairman Harsh V Lodha highlighted that Birla Corporation is a key player in central India’s cement sector, with a current production capacity of 20 million tonnes.The company aims to raise capacity to 27.6 million tonnes by 2028–29 through new grinding units and clinkerisation, with an estimated capital expenditure of Rs 43.35 billion. Lodha added that coal block allocations are progressing through vario..

Ultratech Cement Expands Cuttack Plant with Rs 3.72 Billion Investment

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi virtually inaugurated Ultratech Cement’s Rs 3.72 billion expansion project on Monday from Bhubaneswar. The ceremony, held at the state level in Bhubaneswar, saw the participation of Minister of Industries Sampad Chandra Swain, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, and Additional Chief Secretary Industries Hemant Sharma.Aditya Birla Group head for Odisha, Ardhendu Mohapatra, and Ultratech Cement Cuttack Plant Head Abhinash Rath were also present. At the project site in Khamar Nuagaon and Kolathpangi villages, Athagarh te..

Muthoot Finance Raises $600 Million via Global Bond Issue

Muthoot Finance has raised $600 million through an External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) issuance in the international bond markets, marking the fifth and final drawdown under its Global Medium-Term Note (GMTN) programme since May 2024 and completing the company’s $2 billion target.The bonds, rated BB+ by S&P and Ba1 by Moody’s, were priced at 6.37 per cent, with a 4.5-year maturity and an average life of four years. This represents Muthoot Finance’s first bond issuance since receiving credit rating upgrades from S&P in March 2025 and Moody’s in April 2025.Proceeds from the issua..