Telecom Infrastructure Restored, But For Puri & 3 Other Districts

Bhubaneswar: Telecom infrastructure after cyclone Fani has been restored in most parts of Odisha except in the districts of Khordha, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur. The authorities are now focusing on Puri.

“Telecom infrastructure has been nearly fully restored in all barring three districts. We are now focusing on Puri, where damage was most extensive,” department of telecommunications (DoT) additional secretary Anshu Prakash told reporters on Monday.

He said that nearly 80 per cent of networks has been restored and made functional in Khordha, Cuttack and little bit in Jagatsinghpur. He also hoped restoration work is completed and networks operational in Puri soon.

He said the department had extended a helping hand to various mobile service subscribers after Fani devastated telecommunication services in coastal Odisha districts.

“During the period, free SMS services were permitted and over 2 crore free SMSes were sent. We also permitted free intra-circle roaming. It means any person with a connection can use whichever network is available. Over 10 lakh calls were made using intra-circle roaming,” Prakash said.

However, unlike mobile networks, landline telephone services have been restored in cyclone-hit areas excluding Khordha and Puri. “Barring parts of Khordha and parts of Puri, all landline exchanges have been restored. We are hoping very soon Odisha will see absolute normalcy in telecom network,” he said.