Bhubaneswar: The eighth meeting of the State Broadband Committee was held at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary Anu Garg. The meeting focused on expanding reliable mobile networks and high-capacity broadband connectivity across Odisha, as well as finding coordinated solutions to various implementation challenges, officials said on Tuesday.
Chief Secretary Garg directed the Department of Telecommunications, various cellular operators and broadband service providers to identify connectivity issues in areas outside the state’s network coverage and in border areas, connect such locations within a stipulated timeframe, and prepare a time-bound action plan.
Complaints received by the state government from MPs, MLAs and various districts regarding mobile services in areas with weak or no network coverage will be examined, and necessary corrective measures will be taken. Directions were also issued to consider stronger signal standards to improve the quality of mobile services in rural areas.
The progress of projects being implemented under the Digital Bharat Nidhi for 4G saturation, Aspirational Districts and Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas was also reviewed. These projects are being implemented in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications, the Electronics and Information Technology Department, and district administrations.
The concerned agencies were asked to resolve issues related to direct road connectivity to mobile towers by December this year and complete the remaining works within the prescribed timelines.
Emphasis was also laid on providing necessary land-related No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to BSNL on a priority basis for the installation of mobile towers under Categories 5 and 6, along with expediting pending cases through coordination between BSNL and district administrations.
The Chief Secretary appreciated the efforts of the Electronics and Information Technology Department, power distribution companies, urban local bodies and state public sector undertakings in implementing Right of Way (RoW) reforms and the “SASCI” initiative in the state. As a result of these initiatives, Odisha has become eligible to receive central assistance of more than Rs 150 crore.
Similarly, a tripartite agreement has already been signed among the Department of Telecommunications, BSNL and the Government of Odisha for the revised “BharatNet” project. BSNL and its selected implementation partners have been asked to expedite the work and complete the projects within the agreed three-year timeframe.
The meeting also stressed the need to assign specific tasks, designate responsible agencies and set deadlines to ensure regular monitoring and accountability.
The Electronics and Information Technology Department was directed to maintain regular coordination with the Department of Telecommunications, BSNL and district administrations, and to immediately escalate unresolved issues to higher authorities for early resolution.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Electronics and IT Department Vishal Kumar Dev, along with secretaries of various concerned departments and representatives of telecommunications companies, attended the meeting.
District Collectors from all districts participated in the meeting virtually and discussed the network situation and connectivity requirements in their respective districts.
