Bengaluru Set to Launch 13,000 km Digital Infrastructure Corridor to Streamline Utilities
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has initiated the creation of a 12,800km-long digital infrastructure utility corridor. This project, worth Rs 200 crore, is a significant step towards modernising Bengaluru’s urban infrastructure as part of the ongoing ‘Brand Bengaluru’ campaign.
Bengaluru’s skyline is often cluttered with hanging optical fibre cables (OFCs) and power transmission lines, which not only create an eyesore but also pose serious safety risks to pedestrians and motorists. With overhead cables snaking across streets, footpaths, and trees, residents have long voiced concerns about the hazards they pose. The BBMP’s solution to these issues is a project that will shift these services underground, integrating telecommunications and electrical infrastructure into a single streamlined system. The digital infrastructure corridor, which will span the entire city, aims to replace the current overhead OFCs with a robust underground optical fibre network. This will integrate telecommunications with power infrastructure, enhancing both the aesthetics and safety of Bengaluru. The project will also feature ducts dedicated to electricity utilities, including Bescom (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company), and Smart City initiatives, with approximately 3,400km of ducts allocated for these purposes, as detailed by BBMP Chief Engineer, BS Prahalad.
While Bengaluru already has around 15,000km of ducts in place, this new corridor will make use of these existing facilities, reducing the need for additional excavation and construction work. The project will not only eliminate the hazards caused by hanging cables but also improve the city’s pedestrian safety and traffic flow. In an effort to streamline the utility management process, BBMP will charge optical fibre cable providers a fee for using the new underground ducts. This initiative is expected to generate substantial revenue for the city, which will be reinvested into its further development and infrastructure projects.
BBMP engineers have indicated that the work on this transformative project will begin soon, with the Mahadevapura zone expected to be one of the first areas to see progress. The places where the project will kick off are yet to be officially announced, but local sources confirm that this will be a priority area for implementation. This project is part of a larger national initiative to expand optical fibre infrastructure across India. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is working on developing a 10,000km OFC network to improve internet connectivity in remote regions and accelerate the rollout of advanced 5G and 6G networks. As part of this initiative, 1,367km of optical fibre cable will be developed along the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, and 512km will be laid along the Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridor. The digital infrastructure corridor will make Bengaluru a pioneer in integrating smart city technologies with efficient urban utilities. It is expected to offer a “plug-and-play” model for telecom services, where telecom providers can lease space in the underground ducts through a user-friendly web portal. This will significantly improve the rollout of broadband and mobile services, ensuring faster internet access for residents and businesses across the city. In the long term, the success of this project could serve as a model for other cities across India, transforming urban landscapes by making them safer, cleaner, and more connected in an increasingly digital world.
