Mumbai: Commuters travelling on Metro Line 3 will soon be able to access uninterrupted mobile network services across the entire underground corridor again. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) has issued a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) to Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea for providing in-building solutions (IBS) across the Aqua Line, effectively breaking the deadlock between the agency and telecom operators.The development comes less than a month after MMRCL’s tender to appoint a neutral telecom infrastructure provider for the corridor failed to attract any bidders, leaving the project without a clear roadmap for ensuring uninterrupted mobile connectivity inside underground tunnels and stations.The 33.5km Metro 3 corridor, connecting Aarey to Cuffe Parade, comprises 26 underground and one at-grade station. MMRCL had maintained that because of severe space constraints within tunnels and stations, only one telecom infrastructure provider could be accommodated, which would function as a neutral host for all telecom operators.However, telecom companies had strongly objected to the pricing structure and tender conditions proposed by MMRCL. In a joint communication earlier this year, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea described the reserve price of nearly Rs 1,000 per sq ft, including for non-usable areas, as “exorbitant” and commercially unviable. The operators had also indicated that no telecom company would issue comfort letters to any IBS vendor under the existing framework, discouraging participation in the bidding process.Following the collapse of the tender process, MMRCL held discussions with telecom operators last month. The LoA issued on May 15 confirms acceptance of a joint proposal submitted by the telecom companies for deployment of cellular infrastructure along the entire Metro 3 alignment.As per the terms, telecom operators will pay monthly space rental charges of Rs 4,000 per sq m at stations and Rs 10,000 per station per month towards cable tray maintenance charges for adjoining tunnel sections. A 5% escalation in charges every three years has also been incorporated.MMRCL has further sought a recovery cost payment of Rs 4.65 crore prior to signing the contract agreement and directed operators to furnish a security deposit estimated at around Rs 1.56 crore. The agreement period has been fixed at 25 years.The telecom service providers have been asked to immediately begin installation and operationalisation of the IBS network. The LoA also states that BSNL should be facilitated to deploy signals within six months.
