Jamshedpur: About 40 cable TV operators shut the office of City Digital, the Calcutta-based network company, at Khasmahal in Parsudih on Thursday to protest against the sudden hike in service charges. Around 50,000 subscribers in the steel city were hit by the stir.

After locking up the office of City Digital at noon , the protesters under the banner of City Feedholders' Association, Jamshedpur, declared that the services would remain suspended for the next 24 hours. They said they would be forced to continue the protest if the management of the company did not reduce the service rate.

City Digital has spread its network across area like Bagbera, Parsudih, Sundarnagar, Burmamines, Sidhgora and Birsanagar through local operators.

Tarak Ghosh, president of City Feedholders' Association, Jamshedpur, said City Digital used to charge Rs 50 per subscriber per month, but has suddenly increased the service charge to Rs 80 from July 1.

"The cable operators charges Rs 175 from each subscriber. From that, we pay Rs 50 to the City Digital and Rs 15 to Krishna Cable Network, the firm that has taken the franchise City Digital. Besides this, we have to pay labour costs and meet other maintenance expenses. Now that City Digital has hiked its rate, we will have to pass it on to the customers, who will not be willing to pay," Ghosh told The Telegraph.

He pointed out that a substantial number of the subscribers were from suburbs and rural areas and would surrender the service if the charges were increased.

Ghosh said they would intensify their protests if their demand was not met.

"We may also approach the Union ministry of information and broadcasting,; he added.

Zafar Iqbal, a City Digital executive, pleaded helplessness. "We were compelled to jack up the rate following a hike in broadcasting charges by the government," Iqbal said over phone from Calcutta.