Operation Clean Sky: Gangtok Tightens Cable Management to Restore Urban Order

The District Administrative Centre (DAC), Gangtok, has intensified efforts under Operation Clean Sky to tackle the city’s long-standing cable clutter problem. Led by SDM Gangtok Abhijeet Patil, IAS, the inspection team conducted a detailed review of ongoing cable removal and reorganization works across key city areas.

The joint inspection included officials from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Power Department, Gangtok Smart City, Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD), Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC), BSNL, the Police Department, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

The review covered major stretches like Titanic Point, Old Children’s Park, Tibet Road, M.G. Marg, Tharo Line, and Goshkhan Road. Emphasizing urgency, Patil directed all stakeholders to reorganize tangled wires and restore disconnected services within five days.

Directives issued during the inspection include:

• ISPs must arrange low-hanging or loose wires and remove surplus cable coils from poles. Wires should be secured at the customer’s end or placed in junction boxes.
• BSNL has been ordered to dismantle unused poles contributing to visual clutter.
• Service providers must follow a strict no-crossing policy, with exceptions only at the District Control Room on M.G. Marg and the Drishti Traders complex.
• GMC will clear wires at Golden Heights, Suraksha Mobile Centre, and Hotel Tashi Delek. Hathway and Jio were instructed to reroute their lines, with Jio granted a one-week extension.
• Local providers repeatedly ignoring notices will face service disconnections.

Patil stressed that inspections will continue regularly until M.G. Marg is completely free of overhead cables. He urged all service providers to fully cooperate with the initiative, which aims to improve public safety, enhance the city’s aesthetics, and strengthen Gangtok’s vision of a cleaner and smarter urban environment.