Pune, 2nd April 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation has launched a citywide drive to remove illegally installed overhead optical fiber cables, beginning April 1, in an effort to improve safety and regulate revenue collection.
A major action was carried out on Satara Road on Wednesday morning, where a joint team from multiple municipal departments, supported by police, removed large stretches of unauthorized cables.
The operation resulted in the removal of nearly two truckloads of cables over a 10-kilometre stretch.
Across Pune, a dense network of cables has been seen hanging from flyovers, trees, streetlights, traffic signals, bus stops, and even residential and commercial buildings.
Officials noted that these unregulated installations not only pose a serious risk of accidents but also lead to significant revenue losses for the civic body.
Following a recent standing committee meeting, the civic administration decided to prioritize the removal of such cables while also working on a structured policy to regulate them and ensure proper revenue collection.
The operation covered several areas along Satara Road, including Adinath Society, Pushpa Mangal Karyalaya, Utsav building area, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Society, Punyainagar, and Dhankawadi.
Soon after cables were cut in parts of the area, mobile and internet services from major telecom and broadband providers were disrupted, leading to temporary network outages.
“We have started action against illegal cables as they pose a threat to citizens’ safety. The drive will be intensified across the city, and a clear policy will soon be introduced to regulate such installations and streamline revenue collection,” said Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram.