Bhubaneswar: Mobile phone users across Odisha can expect smoother connectivity by year‑end, with the state government setting a December deadline to remove road‑access hurdles around mobile towers. The move is aimed at accelerating network expansion in uncovered, weak‑signal and border regions, ensuring better service for lakhs of subscribers.
At the eighth State Broadband Committee meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg earlier this week, officials reviewed the rollout of mobile and broadband services.
Telecom operators, BSNL and broadband providers were directed to identify coverage gaps and resolve them within strict timelines. Complaints from MPs, MLAs and district authorities about poor or unavailable services will be examined, with corrective measures mandated.
Benefits for Users
Fewer call drops & faster internet: The clearing of road‑access issues will speed up tower installations, especially in remote and border areas.
Priority approvals: The district administrations must fast‑track land‑related NOCs for tower setups, reducing delays.
Expanded rural reach: Projects under Digital Bharat Nidhi and BharatNet will extend 4G and broadband to aspirational districts and Left‑wing extremism‑affected regions.
Central support: Odisha has become eligible for over ₹150 crore in assistance thanks to Right of Way (RoW) reforms and the SASCI initiative.
Accountability: Agency‑wise responsibilities and deadlines will ensure regular monitoring and timely completion of pending projects.
A tripartite agreement between the Department of Telecommunications, BSNL and the state government under the revised BharatNet project will further strengthen rural broadband, with completion targeted within three years.
District Collectors, who joined the meeting virtually, highlighted local connectivity gaps, ensuring that user needs are factored into the expansion plan.
For ordinary mobile users, these measures promise stronger signals, reliable data services and a more robust digital backbone across Odisha by December.