The government has introduced several measures to prevent damage to drinking water pipelines and other underground utilities during the laying of telecommunications infrastructure, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
In a written reply to Parliament, the minister said safeguards such as the Call Before u Dig (CBuD) mobile application and new regulatory provisions have been put in place to improve coordination between excavation agencies and utility owners.
No complaints of pipeline damage in Punjab areas
According to information available on the CBuD platform, some telecom operators have raised complaints about unreported excavation activities. However, the agency responsible for drinking water supply has not reported any complaints on the platform regarding damage to pipelines during telecom cable laying in parts of Punjab, including Ferozepur, Guru Har Sahai, Fazilka, Malout, Abohar and Sri Muktsar Sahib.
Right of Way rules to ensure safeguards
The minister said the government has notified the Telecommunication (Right of Way) Rules, 2024 under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 to streamline permissions and ensure safety during telecom infrastructure deployment.
These rules allow public authorities to specify conditions while granting right-of-way permissions and include safeguards to minimise the risk of damage to underground utilities during excavation and cable-laying works.
Call Before u Dig app for coordination
The Call Before u Dig mobile application has been launched to facilitate coordination between excavation agencies and owners of underground infrastructure before any digging activity begins.
The platform helps prevent accidental damage to underground assets such as optical fibre cables, drinking water pipelines, electricity cables and gas pipelines by enabling agencies to check existing infrastructure before excavation.
The Centre has asked all states and Union territories to mandate the use of the CBuD app by departments and agencies such as public works departments, urban local bodies and utility service providers. Following this request, the Government of Punjab issued a notification in February 2025 making it mandatory for all departments in the state to use the platform.
Integration with PM GatiShakti platform
The government has also requested state governments and central ministries involved in infrastructure development to map their underground utility assets on the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan platform. This is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the CBuD system by providing a comprehensive digital map of underground infrastructure.
Provision for compensation
The Telecommunications Act, 2023 also provides for compensation in case telecom infrastructure is damaged. The Right of Way Rules lay down procedures for claiming such compensation.
The Department of Telecommunications has further advised states and Union territories to issue government orders similar to the RoW Rules to establish procedures for compensation when underground utilities belonging to state departments or agencies are damaged during excavation work.
The measures are aimed at ensuring smoother deployment of telecom infrastructure while safeguarding critical underground utilities, the minister said.
