New Delhi, September 29:
The Centre on Thursday said it has completed the
rollout of telecom network in areas worst affected by left-wing
extremism (LWE) across 10 States in record time, as part of a major
initiative to boost development in the Red Corridor.
The
public-private partnership project was completed recently, which was
part of the Pragati Programme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The
project was undertaken by Vihaan Networks Ltd (VNL) and Bharat Sanchar
Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to set up world’s largest solar-powered green mobile
network in LWE-affected regions, using indigenously designed and
manufactured technology in a record time of less than 18 months. It is
now operating and managing it for a period of five years. Felicitating
the companies, Communication Minister Manoj Sinha, has urged the
domestic telecom industry to invest in “research and development, and
innovative technology” to produce world-class products for achieving the
Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Digital India’. “Keeping in mind the
difficult terrain, absence of roads, electricity and other
infrastructure, we have deployed solar technology to power all equipment
on the towers, making this the largest green mobile network anywhere in
the world,” said Rajiv Mehrotra, founder-Chairman of VNL. The towers
and equipments are indigenously designed, developed and made in India.
Apart from communicating with family, friends or associates, information
related to agricultural inputs and markets is also now available, he
said.
Banking and other commercial activities are
now accessible. Emergency and other health services are within reach.
Governance is easier and more interactive, Mehrotra added.
“The
government has fast-tracked reforms in the telecom sector and we
continue to be proactive in resonating to the Centre’s vision of ‘Make
in India’ and ‘Digital India’. VNL has been a key contributor to this
endeavour, having completed the project in record time,” said Anupam
Shrivastava, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL.
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