DC Bandipora directs Priority Telecom Push for border villages; reviews BharatNet, BSNL rollout in DLTC meet

BANDIPORA : Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, today chaired a meeting of the District Level Telecom Committee (DLTC) at the Mini Secretariat, Bandipora to review the status of telecom and broadband infrastructure across the district and assess progress on various connectivity-related initiatives.
The meeting deliberated on key agenda points including land allotment for telecom infrastructure, border village connectivity, BSNL USO sites, Amended BharatNet (ABN), Samridh Gram Panchayats, CBuD implementation, and other telecom-related issues.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner reviewed the status of land allotment for telecom towers and was informed that, out of 17 identified sites, feasibility had been received from BSNL for 11 sites, while indent for eight sites was still awaited. She directed the concerned agencies to expedite the remaining formalities and ensure timely resolution of issues for early execution of the projects.
Reviewing connectivity in border villages, the Deputy Commissioner stressed the need to strengthen telecom services in remote and strategically important areas. She directed BSNL and other concerned agencies to prioritise pending works in border villages and ensure that the benefits of improved communication infrastructure reach the far-flung population at the earliest.
The meeting also reviewed the status of BSNL Universal Service Obligation (USO) sites and directed the concerned departments to resolve bottlenecks affecting electricity connections and operationalisation of the remaining sites on priority.
While reviewing the progress under the Amended BharatNet project, the Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned officers to furnish the functional status of all 33 Phase-I sites besides submitting a detailed report on the deployment of equipment and operational readiness to facilitate effective monitoring of the project.
Regarding the Samridh Gram Panchayat initiative, the Deputy Commissioner stressed the need to ensure high-speed internet connectivity in the identified Panchayats and directed that a committee be constituted to monitor implementation and recommend measures for improving digital access.
Reviewing the implementation of CBuD, she directed the Roads and Buildings Department to seek a comprehensive status report and hold a meeting with the Rural Engineering Wing (REW) for coordinated implementation and timely resolution of pending issues.
The Deputy Commissioner also emphasised the importance of creating public awareness regarding telecom and digital connectivity initiatives and directed the Assistant Commissioner Panchayat (ACP) to convene a meeting with the BSNL Manager for organising awareness programmes.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Zaffar Husson Shawl; Superintending Engineer R&B, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Executive Engineers, BSNL officials, and other concerned officers. Besides Sub-Divisional Magistrates attended meeting virtually.