Centre takes up improvement in mobileconnectivity in Darjeeling, Kalimpong

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, NOVEMBER 23, 2022: The Union Ministry of Communications, Electronics and IT has asked the concerned authorities to improve mobile connectivity in various villages of Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars.

On August 25, BJP MP of Darjeeling Raju Bista accompanied by a BJP delegation met Union Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw and requested him to take care of the issue of mobile connectivity in these areas. 

Bista said on Wednesday: “We had highlighted the lack of mobile and internet connectivity in some parts of our Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region, and had requested for his intervention. We had mentioned that as the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts constitute the critical "chicken neck" of the border region of our country, it is vital to have improved infrastructure for mobile connectivity and internet services here, so that the people living in these regions are better integrated with the rest of the nation. 

Following this, a team of BSNL Officials had been sent to check on the mobile and network connectivity across our region. 

”On Tuesday Bista received a communication from the Minister, which read: “Please refer to your D.O. letter No. DARJ/GN/1572 dated 25.08.2022 regarding mobile and internet connectivity in various areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong. 

The status of mobile coverage in villages and habitations of the area mentioned in your letter is given in Annexure. 

The TSPs [Telecom Service Providers] have been further directed to improve the mobile coverage in these villages and habitations. The uncovered villages will be covered in future under USOF schemes or the expansion plans of Telecom Service Providers.” Bista also informed that the Centre was already implementing a scheme for providing 4G connectivity in uncovered villages in the country.

Village Singalila forest was included in this scheme. MahalDiram Tea Garden, Rongo forest and PatenGodak Khasmahal census villages would also be added to 4G saturation schemes. Bista also said that on September 12 he requested for the Minister’s attention to the plight of the temporary BSNL workers in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, who had not been paid their wages. Because of this, they were facing a financial crisis. To this, Minister Vaishnaw had responded:“

As part of the revival strategy, BSNL is issuing tenders to maintain its telecom infrastructure on SLA model. 

BSNL is committed to its responsibility as the principal employer. It has issued various advisories to units and circles to ensure that contract workers get all their statutory dues, as applicable.