AGARTALA, September 6 (TIWN): The state government has forwarded a proposal placed by BSNL authorities of nearly Rs 41.49 crore to Union government for extending Wimax and mobile services to Gram Panchayats and Village Committees of the state.

 In a recent DoNER meeting held in Guwahati in August, the state government had placed demands for taking lease of optical fibre cable in Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala route and taking lease of internet bandwidth for development of teleservices in the entire northeastern region before Government of India.

The BSNL has recently signed a MoU with Power Grid Corporation of India Limited for better telecommunication with outer states in June 2014. Total 12-18 months would be required for the implementation. Besides, high level discussions on laying down optical fibre cable in Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala route through Bangladesh between Bangladesh government and Government of India are going on.

In addition, BSNL had signed another agreement with Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company limited to take lease the internet bandwidth using submarine cable from Coxbazar port of Bangladesh. The service will come into reality soon, said sources.

According to the state government and BSNL record, total 893 Gram Panchayats, out of 1038 (old) GPs of the state are enjoying mobile services. BSNL has planned to extend teleservices in 59 GPs in 2014-15 Financial Year while 47 GPs in 2015-16 Fiscal year. But no plan has been taken for the rest 39 GPs so far.

BSNL has set up new 48 BTS for Wimax services. The government has agreed to sanctionRs 4 crore to BSNL for setting up additional 15 Wimax BTS so that the Common Service Centres, which are not getting BSNL wimax services, could enjoy the facility.

Official records stated that the BSNL had received Rs 1 crore and 80 lakh till date. As per the plan, 13 Wimax BTS has been established. The rest two will be set up soon, said the report.

Moreover, BSNL has planned to introduce wimax services to 325 GPs in 2014-15, though no plan has been taken for 272 GPs for this service.