Bhubaneswar: A tripartite agreement was signed between Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for rolling out of broadband facility in BharatNet Phase-II area on revenue sharing basis with BSNL.
The agreement was signed in the august presence of Electronics & IT Minister Tusharkanti Behera, Principal Secretary Manoj Kumar Mishra, CGM of BSNL, R.N. Pallai, Special Secretary, Manas Ranjan Panda, CEO of OCAC Manoj Pattanaik.
BharatNet Phase-II entails a total investment of Rs.545 crore with laying of 20,000 km of overhead optical fibre cable connecting 2932 Gram Panchayats in remote parts of Odisha and 133 Block headquarters.
This will ensure high speed internet to all Gram Panchayats (GP)s which in turn would ensure delivery of key online services linked to administration, education, health, banking and agriculture with greater efficiency and transparency.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Behera said that the BharatNet Phase-II Odisha project will ensure high speed and reliable internet facility not only to the block headquarters but also to thousands of Gram Panchayats of the remote parts of Odisha.
The people living in these areas will be benefitted by easily accessing various e-governance initiatives and online government services, he said.
The Minister further said that Odisha has become a digitally empowered society and effectively integrated into the knowledge economy with implementation of various 5Ts initiatives in the state.
Most of the services are now technology driven that has resulted in faster, easier, reliable and cost-effective delivery of government services at the doorsteps of the beneficiary, he added.
In order to ensure universal access to digital services in both urban and rural areas, the state government has shown exemplary commitment in implementing Digital India initiatives, Behera stated.
The Minister congratulated the team OPTCL & team OCAC for their dedication in completing the project. He expressed optimism that BSNL would leverage the Phase-II network in releasing rural broadband connections.
BSNL is providing Broadband service to the people of Odisha in Urban as well as rural areas. At present more than 1.1 lakhs broadband connections are working in every part of Odisha through optical Fibre & Copper network.
BharatNet project with funding by USOF was launched to provide high speed Internet connectivity to every nook and corner of the State by Centre. In the first phase 18 districts of Odisha were covered with BharatNet being maintained by BSNL. In the second Phase 12 districts i.e. Bargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nowrangpur & Angul were covered which were executed by OPTCL, under State led Model.