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The Cabinet on Wednesday has approved provisioning of mobile services in uncovered villages of ‘aspirational districts’ across five States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha, at an estimated cost of ₹6,466 crore.
The project envisages 4G based mobile services in the 7,287 uncovered villages of 44 Aspirational Districts across these five States. The project cost includes operational expenses for five years. It will be supported by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) and will be completed within 18 months after the signing of the agreement and likely to be completed by November 23, a government release said.
“The work will be awarded through open competitive bidding process as per extant USOF procedures,” it said.
The present proposal for provisioning of mobile services in the remote and difficult uncovered areas of Aspirational Districts across the five States will enhance diverse benefits through digital connectivity including e-Governance initiatives and e-commerce, it added.
Road connectivity
The Cabinet has also approved to the proposals of Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development for continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-I and II up to September, 2022 for completion of balance road and bridge works.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also approved continuation of Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) up to March, 2023. A total expense of ₹1,12,419 crore, including States’ share is likely to be incurred from 2021-22 to 2024-25 for completion of all the ongoing interventions of PMGSY, the government release said.
The government started PMGSY-I to provide connectivity to unconnected habitations with a population of more than 500 in the plains and 250+ in the North-East and Himalayan States. In selected left wing extremism blocks, habitations of 100+ population were also to be provided connectivity.
Only 2,432 habitations are left out of total 1.84 lakh habitations; 20,950 km road length and 1,974 bridges are need to be completed out of total sanctioned 6.45 lakh km road length and 7,523 bridges.
Under PMGSY-II, upgradation of 50,000 km rural road network was envisaged. Total 49,885 km road length and 765 bridges have been sanctioned, of which only 4,240 Km road length and 254 bridges are balance.
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