The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C) of the Government of Goa, in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications State Coordination Goa, organised an awareness workshop on the “Call Before u Dig” mobile application. The event, honoured by the presence of Sanjay Kumar Chaudhary, ITS, Deputy Director General (DDG) State Coordination, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, Pramod S Sapkale, ITS, Director (Compliance & SC), MH & Goa, Maharashtra License Service Area, Department of Telecommunications, Govt. of India, Yashaswini B., IAS Director of ITE&C, along with Harshad Pawar Deputy Director at DITE&C and Pradeep Gaonkar, Assistant Director at DITE&C, aimed to educate various government officials on the app’s role in facilitating smooth coordination between departments and lowering operational costs, by ensuring seamless coordination with utility asset owners.
Often, activities by different agencies unintentionally damage underground utility assets due to a lack of information. The app provides a vital interface and communication channel between excavation agencies and utility owners, enabling coordination for planned activities and safeguarding infrastructure.
Addressing government officials from various departments, Yashaswini B., IAS, Director of ITE&C, emphasised the challenges faced by excavators working without knowledge of existing assets locations, which complicates the process of contacting multiple departments.
“Our proposed solution, the ‘Call Before You Dig’ app, is an asset registration platform where asset owners can register their assets and excavators can easily inform about their activities. This will help owners know when their properties are near an excavation, making the process smoother and improving coordination. This approach also reduces losses and promotes informed activities.”
Sanjay Kumar Chaudhary, Deputy Director General (DDG), State Coordination, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, explained the importance of the Call Before U Dig (CBuD) mobile app. Introducing and demonstrating the detailed functionalities of the CBuD app, Pramod S. Sapkale underlined its role in streamlining excavation activities by coordinating efforts and protecting existing utilities. The app serves as a unified platform for stakeholders, enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and minimising disruptions to essential services during excavations. Regarding unauthorised activities, Sapkale outlined stringent monitoring through the CBuD app and portal, which maintain databases of authorised excavations. Users are encouraged to report unauthorised activities via the app, facilitating direct communication with responsible parties and ensuring swift resolution of damages to properties.
Moreover, Yashaswini B., IAS, advocated for appointing a modal officer to enhance communication with excavators and ensure proper execution of excavation tasks. She emphasised the mandatory inclusion of excavation details in Operational Control Procedures (OCP) issued by departments, emphasising the app’s role in integrating and improving the excavation process across Goa.
Participating officers from various departments raised questions about how the credential system and organisational hierarchy accommodate diverse administrative structures across states or districts in managing excavations and infrastructure projects. The credential system ensures secure access and operates with hierarchical levels, enabling Level 4 to oversee district authorities and panchayats locally, each with tailored logins. This flexible system supports effective project management across various state administrative structures.
Additionally, departments ensure that registered owners receive timely notifications and effectively control local excavation activities through a direct and personalised communication system. This ensures owners are informed about activities specific to their areas, supporting localised management and enabling them to protect their assets effectively.
The workshop marked a significant step towards improving excavation management in Goa, leveraging technology to strengthen better coordination and protection of essential infrastructure assets.
