Scindia welcomes West Bengal government’s move to implement telecom infrastructure rules

PTI, May 16, 2026, Kolkata : Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Saturday lauded the West Bengal government for implementing the rules aimed at speeding up telecom infrastructure deployment.

In a post on X, Scindia thanked Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for “aligning the state with the central framework”, and termed the move a step towards building a “prosperous and empowered” Bengal.

The minister also alleged that West Bengal had, for years, remained “deprived” of the benefits of several flagship initiatives of the central government, affecting the pace of digital infrastructure and connectivity in the state.

“Building together a prosperous and empowered ‘Sonar Bangla’. Many thanks to the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri @SuvenduWB for aligning West Bengal with the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024,” he said.

Scindia, the Union Minister for Communications, also said this is a “significant step toward strengthening digital infrastructure and accelerating BharatNet’s implementation across the state”.

The remarks came after the West Bengal Information Technology and Electronics Department issued a notification on May 15, stating that the Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024, would be deemed to have come into effect in the state from January 1, 2025.

The notification said the rules would be mandatorily followed by all state government departments, statutory authorities, non-statutory authorities and parastatals under the administrative control of the state government.

It also stated that the West Bengal Telecom Infrastructure Guidelines, 2023, stood rescinded with immediate effect.

“For years, the people of Bengal remained deprived of the full benefits of several transformative flagship initiatives of the central government, causing the state to regress in pace while much of the nation moved ahead rapidly in digital infrastructure and connectivity,” Scindia said.

He also said, “Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi and through the spirit of double-engine governance, this landmark step will further enhance connectivity, expand digital access and strengthen last-mile service delivery for every citizen.”