Rajkot Corporation to collect levy on mobile phone towers

The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) plans to collect installation and licence fees for mobile phone towers erected by different companies in Rajkot city and in areas under the Rajkot Urban Development Authority.

RMC municipal commissioner Mukesh Kumar said: "Under the new resolution of GDCR of the Gujarat government, we have decided to collect installation fees and licence fees towards erected coverage towers by different mobile phone companies".

Such charges are already being levied in Ahmedabad, Baroda, Bhavnagar. As per the rule, for every mobile phone tower in Rajkot, a non-refundable deposit of Rs 25,000 will have to be made. Moreover, an annual licence fee at the rate of Rs 1000 per meter (of height of the tower) per tower will be collected.

There are 50 such towers in Rajkot and the charges will be levied on a retrospective effect from the time they were installed.

Bakul Rupani, town planning officer, RMC, said these charges will lead to an additional income of over Rs 1 crore for the municipal corporation.