September 22, 2025: The Maharashtra state government has made it mandatory for all new buildings to have inbuilt telecommunication infrastructure, including a telecom room and a structured wiring system. This will ensure that tenants and owners can access reliable digital services, similar to other essential utilities such as water, electricity, and fire safety.
Municipal corporations and town planning authorities have been directed to incorporate telecom infrastructure provisions in building plans. Occupancy certificates or building completion certificates will not be issued unless this infrastructure is in place. Each new building must include a common duct connected to the telecom room, with detailed drawings showing intra and interconnectivity to the distribution network.
An official from the urban development department explained that the initiative aims to create an ecosystem where digital connectivity becomes integral to building development. The move follows a request by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in August 2022 to amend the Model Building Bye-Laws 2016. Accepting this, the state amended the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), issuing a notification on September 4 to enforce the new provisions.
The notification specifies that telecom systems should be safeguarded from flooding, moisture, fumes, or dust, must withstand equipment load, and should be positioned away from vibrations. Developers must submit a detailed service plan, certified by a telecom consultant, while applying for approvals. Ideally, cables should run beneath parking areas or service lanes to avoid disruptions, though they may also be placed along the edge of rights-of-way if necessary.
The government has also permitted DoT, TRAI, and service providers to inspect building plans and suggest changes.
Urban planner Pankaj Joshi welcomed the decision, calling it a model for Mumbai’s Development Control and Promotion Regulations. “It will help multiple vendors connect with higher throughput as well as create a competitive environment,” he said, adding it would reduce visible wiring, prevent repeated road digging, and generate revenue for local bodies through wheeling charges.
Source: Hindustan Times
