Speaking to reporters here, Subhash Dumbre, additional commissioner, PCMC, said the project to provide Wi-Fi service in the municipal limits is being implemented on a public-privatepartnership (PPP) basis.

The PCMC has an ambitious plan to provide Wi-Fi service in its entire limit. Initially, it had planned to provide this service along old Pune-Mumbai highway and at Balewadi, before the beginning of the Commonwealth Youth Games in October.

Dumbre said, "The civic body invited bids for Wi-Fi service in the entire township. We asked contractors about how much money they would invest and how much they would like the PCMC to contribute. The IL&FS consortium -- consisting of Software Technology Park of India, Fujitsu India and Lifestyle Network -- said they would pay PCMC part of the income earned from the project and bagged the contract."

The project would be functional for a period of 10 years. The civic body will receive a royalty of 2.5 per cent on income up to Rs 25 crore and 4 per cent on further income during the first to 10th year. The civic body will receive a fixed income of Rs 64 lakh in the second year, Rs 80 lakh in third, Rs 97 lakh in the fifth year, Rs 116 lakh in the sixth year, Rs 138 lakh in the seventh year, Rs 161 lakh in the eighth year, Rs 186 lakh in the ninth year and Rs 214 lakh in the tenth year.

Dumbre said, "The Wi-Fi service will be provided along the old Pune-Mumbai highway and four zonal offices in the first week of December. PCMC will provide space to the consortium, at schools and other civic properties, to install towers and radios. The civic body will also get rent for the same."