Srinagar, September 16, 2025 – Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level review meeting today to bolster telecom and digital communications infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing the urgent need to extend reliable mobile and internet services to remote villages, dark zones, and even railway tunnels. The session underscored connectivity as a vital enabler for governance, education, healthcare, tourism, and overall socio-economic development in the region.Attended by Minister for Information Technology Satish Sharma, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, several administrative secretaries, and BSNL officials, the meeting delved into the progress of key initiatives and the hurdles impeding their rollout. BSNL representatives provided updates on the Amended BharatNet Project (ABP) Phase-III, a flagship effort to deliver high-speed broadband to Gram Panchayats and rural pockets, aiming to bridge the digital divide in underserved areas.Highlighting the transformative potential of robust networks, Abdullah stressed that “connectivity is the bridge to progress,” directing authorities to adhere to strict timelines and prioritize coverage in uncovered habitations.
He assured comprehensive government backing to resolve longstanding bottlenecks, including expedited land allotments for telecom towers, swift Right of Way (RoW) permissions from departments like Roads & Buildings (R&B), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and Forests for optical fibre deployment.The discussions also spotlighted the imperative for seamless operations, such as ensuring electricity supply to all Gram Panchayats to activate BharatNet nodes, introducing centralized billing and smart metering, and securing functional Panchayat or alternative government buildings to host digital services. These measures are crucial to preventing disruptions, especially in light of recent telecom outages triggered by heavy rains and floods that left residents feeling “disconnected” reminiscent of past crises. In his concluding remarks, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment: “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 instructed BSNL and relevant departments to foster close collaboration, eliminate delays promptly, and guarantee on-time execution of all connectivity projects.This review aligns with broader efforts to fortify J&K’s digital ecosystem, building on recent interventions like the activation of Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) to mitigate outage impacts from natural disasters. As the Union Territory advances towards comprehensive digital inclusion, such initiatives promise to empower citizens and drive sustainable development.
