Shillong, June 19 NNN : To upgrade telecommunications facilities in insurgency-hit and border areas in India\u2019s
\nnortheastern states, the Union government has decided to spend Rs 647 crores on North Eastern
\nconnectivity by BSNL and Telecom Department.
\nStressing on the importance of connectivity for the North East, Union Minister of state for Communication and IT Sanchin Pilot who was in Shillong yesterday has assured full support of the Centre in ensuring that satellite connectivity would be tapped for remote and hilly regions besides landline, wireless, and data connectivity on par with rest of the country.
\nThe Union Minister also stressed that adequate mobile coverage of National and state Highways would be a priority for the Government.
\nThe Union Minister of state reviewed the functioning of BSNL and department of posts in north eastern states in Shillong.
\n\u201cSatellite connectivity would be tapped for remote and hilly regions,\u201d Pilot said.
\nThe Minister has directed the senior officials of BSNL to focus especially on quality voice and data services.
\nPilot said, \u201cBSNL has 2635 mobile towers in the North East and 684 WLL towers for high speed broadband service in the rural areas\u201d.
\n \u201cAn ambitious plan in this regard is under the consideration of the Government in consultation with the departments of north eastern region.\u201d
\nHe informed that BSNL plans a capital expenditure of Rs 347 crore in the North Eastern States for the current fiscal year.
\n \u201cof this Rs 92.18 crore is embarked for Assam, Rs 33.86 crore for NE 1 circle comprising of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Rs 68.07 crore for NE 2 circle comprising of Nagaland, Manipur and
\nArunachal Pradesh, and Rs 10 crore for Sikkim,\u201d Pilot said.
\nA special unit entrusted with execution of projects would be given Rs 142.93 crore, the Minister said in addition about Rs 300 crores that will be spent on National Optical Fiber Network and other projects.
\nPilot announced that 50 more post offices of the North East would be taken up under the Project this year adding that services being offered through the post offices would be expanded.
\nThe Minister said that there are 7142 post offices in the North East and of these 782 have already been upgraded to global quality of service under the Department of Post\u2019s prestigious Project Arrow at a cost of Rs 8.2 crore<\/p>\n\n