Port Blair, April 4: 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 under-ground 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 these issues, 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 the Excavation/Digging Agencies in A&N Islands have been advised to mandatorily use the mobile app “Call Before u Dig (CBuD)” before undertaking any type of digging on and along the public roads, public places. All Excavating / Digging agencies have been notified that not using the mobile app “Call Before u Dig (CBuD)” before undertaking any type of digging work will invite imposition of huge penalty besides cancellation of Registration of Excavators / digging machinery used.