Noida, the fast growing city adjoining the national capital, is facing seriously affected cellular network connectivity for the forth consecutive day as the Noida authority and cellular operators were unable to reach a compromise.

The residents have called for an end to this deadlock immediately as it was seriously affecting business and personal life in the city falling under the NCR. Noida Authority had sealed around 130 towers with two days during last weekend alleging that they are unauthorized.

A meeting between Noida authority and cellular operators had to be cancelled because no cellular operator approached with the deposit money or no-objection letters from building owners, according to an authority official.

Kalyani R, a city resident has filed an application under the Right to Information Act to know the details about specific towers and norms fixed by the authority for allowing towers on buildings. The reply to the application was that the authority is still collecting the information.

Speaking on behalf of the cellular operators, the secretary general of the Unified Telecom Service Mr. S C Khanna said "Most of the norms are unilaterally prepared by the authority,'' and some are difficult to comply with.

The High court in the state has ordered the Noida Authority on Wednesday to restore within 24 hours the status of mobile phone towers sealed by it if they meet the standard norms essential for their construction.

Meanwhile in the Capital the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said that it will not take actions which could affect the cellular connectivity in the city. The MCD wants to clear away all the illegal towers but has decided not to take any actions for now.

The civic body has also eased norms for installation of new mobile phone towers. The permission charge for installation of new towers has been reduced from Rs 5 lakh per site to Rs 1 lakh per tower. The new guidelines will allow operators to set up towers on community centres, municipal or government buildings, and commercial buildings in and around residential areas.

The civic body has also given an opportunity to the owners of unauthorized towers to apply for authorization.