According to sources, the two associations in a letter to the cabinet, have sought the formation of a committee represented by secretaries of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the ministry of surface transport and the Railway Board chairman in addition to association representatives.

The move comes after the surface-transport ministry raised objections to private telecom companies laying cables along national highways. While the basic and cellular companies argued that they were vested with a right to lay cables along the highways as per their licence agreements, the ministry contended that its permission was needed before the companies could lay them.

"We have asked for sucha committee to be formed so that the problem can be solved and also make sure that no similar problems come up in future," said sources in the associations.

They said the associations had taken this step keeping in mind the possible objections that could be raised by the railways or the Power Grid Corporation. "To lay cables between two cities, you either do it along the highway or lay them along the railway tracks. Sometimes, power-transmission towers can also be used. If we are not allowed to use any of them, where do we lay the cables," said a cellular-company official.