4483 gram panchayats in J&K to get optical fibre connectivity: CS

Chief secretary BVR Subrahmanyam Thursday said that 4483 gram panchayats will be covered under high-speed optical fibre connectivity programme across Jammu and Kashmir.

An official spokesman said that Subrahmanyam was briefingthe union secretary telecom secretary regarding the connectivity scenario inthe state.

   

“He (CS) informed that there are 4483 gram panchayats (GPs)in 6553 villages across the state. The number of GPs to be covered in phase-1through optical fibre cabling is 368, while 281 are covered till date. Inphase-2, 4100 would be connected,” the spokesman said.

The meeting was informed that as per a survey completed inAugust 2018, of 6553 villages, 749 were yet to get mobile connectivity.

“According to DoT, in Jammu and Kashmir presently, 6210villages have got mobile connectivity and 127 villages are yet to be covered,”the spokesman said.

The union telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan chaired ameeting over extending high-speed internet connectivity to gram panchayats inJammu and Kashmir and the steps required for augmentation of thealready-existing infrastructure.

“Threadbare discussion was held on improving telecomconnectivity in gram panchayats, border areas and Ladakh region. Various issuesincluding connectivity to gram panchayats, fibre connectivity, telecom policyand issue related to the clearance process for installation of towers and fibrein the state were also discussed,” the spokesman said.

The Union secretary also sought details regarding thechallenges faced by the telecommunication service executing agencies anddirected that the state government should constitute a team to identify avillage in every gram panchayat for installation of fibre cables for betterconnectivity.

She added that the government of India will also formulate ateam which will work in close coordination with the state nodal team to resolvethe issues regarding the installation of fibre cables.

A senior official later said the tendering process for thesecond phase has started though no timeline has been decided for completion ofthe project.

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