Remote villages to be connected through DSPTs

NEW DELHI: More than thirty thousand villages have been provided with Village Public Telephones (VPTs) under the Rural Telephony component of Bharat Nirman Programme. As against the target of providing VPTs in 66822 uncovered villages under the programme, 30251 villages have been provided VPTs as on 31st August 2006.

In the States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat Assam, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh more than 50 per cent of the targetted villages have been provided with VPTs.

Under the Programme, 14183 remotely located villages have been planned to be connected through Digital Satellite Phone Terminals (DSPTs). In the States like Orissa and Jharkhand, 100 per cent uncovered villages are envisaged to be provided with DSPTs.

Steps are being taken to deploy satellite based equipment to provide VPTs in the remotely located villages. For expeditious roll out in some of these villages, existing wireless technology WLL i.e. Wireless in Local Loop is also being deployed.

Under the Bharat Nirman Programme, 66,822 revenue villages in the country, which have not yet been provided with a Village Public Telephone (VPT), shall be covered by November, 2007. Out of above, 14,183 remotely located villages will be provided VPTs through DSPTs. An estimated sum of Rs. 451 crore would be incurred to provide subsidy support for these VPTs. The entire funding shall be met out of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund.

The state-wise details of villages covered with VPTs under the Bharat Nirman programme can also be accessed through the website: www.dot.gov.in/www.bharatnirman.gov.in

© CIOL Bureau