2021/Tele/6(3)/2
I/3104840/2024
सं.2023/Tele/6(3)/1(3359640) Rail Bhawan, New Delhi–110001
Dated: 0 9 .09.2024
General Manager,
All Zonal Railways
Telecom Circular: 07/2024
Sub.: Maintenance of OFC & other Telecom Assets by Railways
Ref.: Board’s letter of even number dated 04.12.23
*****
Railway Board, vide above referred letter, had advised Zonal Railways not to transfer the
OFC assets being created to RailTel. In this respect, Railways are advised that besides OFC, no
new Telecom assets created shall be transferred to RCIL.
2. Railways are also advised to maintain these Telecom assets which have not been
transferred to RCIL, including OFC, on their own. The maintenance of these assets can be
outsourced, if desired, by Zonal Railways.
3. For outsourcing, tentative guidelines for OFC and Tower are given in Annexure, which
may be adopted by Zonal Railways. These guidelines are not exhaustive. Railways can modify
these guidelines, if required, and incorporate further special conditions in the Tender as per their
specific requirements. Open Tender may be invited for outsourcing. These Tenders may include
the detailed scope of maintenance with defined parameters, preventive maintenance, frequency of
maintenance, rectification of faults so as to ensure the availability of asset of the highest order.
Penalty provisions shall also be incorporated in case of any deficiency in maintenance.
This issues with the approval of AM/Tele/Railway Board.
(धर्मेन्द्र सिंह)
निदेशक / दरू संचार
दूरभाष 011-47843013, 030-43013
ई.मेल dtele@[Link]
Copy: PCSTEs, All Zonal Railways.
2021/Tele/6(3)/2
Annexure
I/3104840/2024
Following can be included in the outsourcing for OFC network maintenance:
1. OFC and Associated Telecom Equipment Maintenance:At least one team for maintenance
in a section length of 200 Km. Besides OFC maintenance, associated Telecom equipment
maintenance like power plant, DG sets if available, Air Conditioners if available and not
maintained by Electrical, minor repairing of shelters/building like Porta Cabin which are not
maintained by Engineering, Earthing arrangements etc.
2. Preventive Maintenance of OFC:Details for Preventive maintenance for Cable Protection
like regular patrolling and surveillance of OFC Route to have preventive OFC link
disruptions. Attending to/Safe-guarding against any signs of damage or potential damage.
Details of Planned repairs to existing joints/terminations and Preventive maintenance of OFC
Cable(measurements with OTDR and Power equipment), restoration of OFC cuts, mean time
to repair ,response time, restoration time, record of fault repair time, monitoring and
maintenance at equipment locations etc.
3. Maintenance Plan Requirements: Details to be submitted in Maintenance plan by
Contractor: Details of the man-power and equipment proposed to be located at different sites
to cover the jurisdiction for the maintenance of the OFC network. Details of Installation of
Joint Closure & Splicing of OFC, upkeep of Power equipment (Charger, battery etc.).
4. Penalty Provisions: Details of Penalty provisions for non-compliance/deficiency in the
maintenance of OFC, Power equipment and other associated equipment.
Following can be included in the outsourcing for Tower maintenance:
1. Tower Maintenance and structural checks: Details of maintenance for Feeder and Power
Cables between RR Station and tower, Earthing and its meggaring and maintenance,
Verticality check and level of top of foundations, Painting/Galvanizing and its finishing,
Protection against lighting, Cleaning of towers, foundation checking and attending the same
in case of settlement or damage, Structural stability, tilt of the tower and settlement of
foundation if any; Buckling/distortion of members, if any, permissible tilt and if beyond the
permissible limit then action for arresting the same and then rectification, Corrosion;
Foundations and stability; Connections, looseness of bolts, Checking distortion of members
using piano wire and scale, if necessary, Tower aviation lights.
2. Responsibilities in case of natural disasters: Responsibilities in case of damage /
disturbances due to heavy rains/heavy wind/cyclone, etc. restoration to be done to the extent
possible within provisions of maintenance agreement. In case such damage/disturbance,
requires additional work like replacement of damaged tower member, fitting arrangements,
aviation lamps, earthing, re-alignment, re-painting etc., cost to be assessed by Railways for
both material and labour portion and with mutual consent can be executed by the contractor.
3. Call-Based Maintenance: Also, in normal conditions, call-based attending of
failure/deficiency noticed to be done within reasonable time, as decided by Railway.
4. Penalty Provisions: In the event of failure of contractor to complete the work or deficiency,
suitable penalty may be imposed.
Note: RCIL has been maintaining Railway OFC and Tower assets and have outsourced the
maintenance of these assets. Railways may refer to RCIL Tender document/ conditions for
maintenance of such assets before finalizing their tender conditions.
