Bengaluru to build 12,800 km Digital Utility Corridor as part of Rs 200 crore infrastructure overhaul

Bengaluru's civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has awarded a Rs 200 crore contract to Arthur D Little, a digital solutions provider, to build a 12,800 km digital infrastructure utility corridor across the city. The project, part of the 'Brand Bengaluru' initiative, aims to modernize the city's urban infrastructure. Expected to begin soon, it will enhance pedestrian safety and improve the city's visual appeal.

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BBMP Chief Engineer B.S. Prahalad reportedly revealed that the new underground corridor will replace existing overhead optical fibre cables (OFCs), creating a unified network for telecommunications and electrical infrastructure. Around 3,400 km of the ducts will be allocated to electricity utilities such as Bescom and Smart City projects.

Currently, Bengaluru has approximately 15,000 km of ducts, with the new project further streamlining and securing urban spaces. Prahalad emphasized the hazards posed by hanging OFCs, often installed by multiple service providers, which not only mar the city's aesthetics but also pose risks to pedestrians and motorists. Transitioning to underground ducts will mitigate these dangers.

The project is also set to generate revenue for the city by charging telecom and service providers a fee for using the underground ducts. This initiative is part of a broader national effort to expand optical fibre infrastructure, with significant portions of the OFC network being developed along major highways.