The remote Gurez valley in northern Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Sunday finally got mobile connectivity, giving much needed relief to the residents of the area close to the Line of Control that remains cut off for months every winter.
An official said the Gurez valley has been given mobile and internet connectivity by Reliance Jio helping solve connectivity issues the people of backward area had been facing.
“On Sunday Reliance Jio made a trial run for 4G internet and voice calling in Dawar tehsil of Gurez valley where Jio towers had been installed a year ago but there were some issues which led to the delay in starting the Jio services in the area, the official said.
“But all the issues have been resolved and Jio has been given permission to provide internet and calling services to the people of Gurez.”
So far, the only mode of communication available for the people of Gurez was provided by a single transceiver tower of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in Dawar that ran a few landline telephones.
However, Tulail tehsil and Bagtore areas of Gurez did not even have this facility. The area has been facing immense problems due to the unavailability of the mobile network.
Gurez valley remains cut off from Kashmir valley and pretty much the outside world for winter months every year when the Bandipora-Gurez road remains snowbound.
“Due to the absence of mobile connectivity, the problems faced by the people here would get aggravated. Now the mobile and internet connectivity by Jio would provide a much-needed relief and minimise the problems being faced by the local populace,” said a resident of Gurez.
The people living in Gurez have expressed their gratitude to distirict authorities for helping get 4G mobile and data services to the area.
“Since the area is located very close to the Line of Control (LoC), there were some security related issues for providing uninterrupted mobile connectivity to the area. Now the issues have been resolved and people of Gurez have been provided mobile and internet connectivity through Reliance Jio,” said an official.
He said that as of now Dawar tehsil has been given mobile and internet connectivity from Sunday, but Tulail and Bagtore areas of Gurez were yet to be provided this service.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that from Monday 4G mobile and internet services will function normally in Dawar tehsil and the area would get connected with rest of the valley.
“Today we had a trial run which was successful. By the end of November this year Tulail and Bagtore areas would also be covered by Jio network. Thus whole Gurez valley will get 4G mobile and internet services which would give a much-needed relief to the people of Gurez,” he said.