The networks of overhead hanging cables carrying television and internet connections would be diverted to underground network of pipelines for household and corporate service connections.
The tangling mesh of squalid appearing cables would be removed by next December, official sources said.
With the initiatives and help of both the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) authorities, all the hanging cables would be replaced through the underground network of pipeline system.
According to officials, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), Power Department Board and various other government agencies had been trying to remove the cables for more than a decade. They had taken many initiatives, held meetings and gave ultimatums.
Nothing, however, worked. Finally, the city of Dhaka is getting changes with the joint efforts by DSCC Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh and DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam.
They said all the hanging cables will go underground by November and the city dwellers will see overhead tangling cables free capital by December.
The DNCC authorities have already started the process of removing the hanging cables from October 1. DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam himself inaugurated the process through a drive operated at the capital’s Gulshan-2 area.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said, “To solve the issue, we have held several meetings with Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN), Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh (ISPB) and Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh (COAB).”
“All the cables would be replaced through the underground. In this regard, we will set up pipes through the drainages of the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA)”, said the DNCC Mayor and continued as saying that the service providing agencies have to pay us (DNCC) for it.
Besides, DSCC Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh on Sunday held a meeting with the leaders of ISPAB and COAB at the DSCC office regarding the issue of removal of the hanging cables and making the capital free of hanging cables.
At the meeting, the DSCC Mayor said, “We want to free Dhaka from mess of hanging cables. We have all come to an agreement to remove the cables.”
He said that the process of the removal of hanging wires will be started from Dhanmondi area under the DSCC.
He said the entire DSCC area will be free from any kind of hanging cable within November and those cables will be replaced through underground network of pipelines.
ISPAB President M Aminul Hakim said they already have started removal of internet cables and hopefully it would be completed by November.