Pot Blair, Oct. 5: Very often various agencies constructing infrastructure projects require digging / cutting of roads and excavating at public places. Such digging/ cutting and excavating at public places often damage the existing underground infra like Optical Fiber Cables, Water pipelines, Electric Cables, sewerage pipelines, etc. of other Utilities Asset Owners causing them huge economic losses, inconvenience to citizen and associated business losses to other stakeholders.

To address this critical issue and ensure the safety and efficiency of excavation activities, Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India has come out with a mobile app “Call Before u Dig (CBuD)” which provides an interface for excavator agencies / contractors to send alert / inform owners of existing utility assets about their upcoming excavation route. This will enable the utility owners to assist the excavating agencies to identify the route of the existing infrastructure so that damage to the existing infrastructure could be avoided. The mobile app “Call Before u Dig (CBuD)” was launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on 22.03.2023. All excavators and utility agencies in A&N Islands are advised to register their excavation inquiries on the CBuD application before commencing any digging activities.

This registration is mandatory and failure to comply with these instructions will be considered a violation of the Indian Telegraph-Infrastructure Safety Rules, 2022. Violators may face penal charges in accordance with the established rules and regulations. The Department of Telecom encourages individuals and agencies to report any instances of excavation activities that have not been registered in the CBuD application. Such information can be brought to the attention of the Office of DDG, DoT, A&N West Bengal LSA, Port Blair.