Free SMS & Intra-Circle Roaming Services For Cyclone-Hit Odisha Subscribers

New Delhi: Mobile subscribers in cyclone-hit Odisha will get free SMS and intra-circle roaming services, the National Crisis Management Committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha was informed on Tuesday.

During a review meeting with senior officials of Odisha government and other agencies,
it was also informed that the Department of Telecommunications is coordinating with the State Government to implement a priority plan for restoration of mobile and Internet services in the affected areas.

Other issues highlighted in the meeting:

Cellular towers on wheels are also being deployed in Puri.

Banking services have started and efforts are being made to operationalise all ATMs.

Ministry of Home Affairs has released Rs 1,000 crore to Odisha as announced by the Prime Minister on Monday. Earlier, Rs 341 crore had been provided to the state as an advance to its SDRF.

Stressing on early restoration of power infrastructure, Odisha Government reported that following deployment of additional manpower and materials from Central PSUs and the neighbouring states, power supply has been restored partially in Bhubaneswar, while a lot of ground still needed to be covered in Puri.

Power supply to maintain essential services such as water, health and banking etc. is being provided through diesel generator sets.

It was also reported that landline connectivity has been restored in Puri though mobile services still remain skeletal.

Department of Telecommunications is coordinating with the State Government to implement a priority plan for restoration of mobile and Internet services in the affected areas.

Reviewing the relief measures, the Cabinet Secretary stressed that power and telecommunications in Puri and Bhubaneswar need to be restored on priority and directed the State and Central officials to work in close coordination.

He further directed that adequate gen-sets and mobile cellular towers be arranged and provided for the restoration efforts.