SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review measures for strengthening telecom and digital communications infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir, with particular emphasis on extending services to remote villages, dark zones and railway tunnels.
The meeting, attended by IT Minister Satish Sharma, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, several Administrative Secretaries, and senior officials of BSNL, assessed the progress of ongoing projects and the obstacles delaying their completion.
Officials from BSNL briefed the gathering on the Amended BharatNet Project (ABP) Phase-III, which seeks to provide high-speed internet to Gram Panchayats and rural areas. The Chief Minister directed that strict timelines be adhered to, with priority coverage of uncovered and far-flung habitations.
Key challenges flagged during the review included the need for early land allotment for telecom towers, swift approvals for Right of Way permissions from departments such as RB, PMGSY, BRO and Forests for optical fibre laying, and the provision of electricity connections to all Gram Panchayats for BharatNet operations.
Abdullah underlined the importance of robust connectivity for governance, education, healthcare, tourism and overall welfare, assuring full government support. “Digital empowerment of our villages and towns is a cornerstone of inclusive growth. We are committed to ensuring that no part of Jammu and Kashmir remains disconnected—whether it is a remote hamlet, a dark zone, or a railway tunnel,” he said.
The Chief Minister directed BSNL and government departments to work in close coordination, remove bottlenecks without delay, and ensure timely execution of connectivity projects across the Union Territory.
