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The Maharashtra government has cleared land allotment in 930 villages for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to install mobile towers and improve 4G coverage in rural and tribal areas. Each tower site will get 200 square metres of land free of cost, as per a cabinet decision from 2022. Earlier approvals covered 2,751 villages, but technical issues prevented tower installation at several sites, leading to a revised list. The latest order spans 30 districts, with officials asked to provide quick approvals and ensure electricity, fibre connectivity, and other basic facilities.
The Maharashtra government has given approval for allotment of land in 930 villages to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for setting up mobile towers. The initiative is intended to expand internet access in rural and tribal parts of the state. The approval came through an order from the Revenue and Forest Department this past week. Advertisement
BSNL had requested land for ground-based towers and installation of equipment to extend 4G coverage to remote areas. As per the decision, each tower site will receive 200 square metres of land without any cost. This step follows a cabinet decision taken in November 2022 to support network expansion in rural Maharashtra.
Earlier, in April 2023, the government had cleared tower installation in 2,751 villages. However, many of those sites faced technical difficulties, preventing construction of towers. BSNL then submitted a revised list of 930 villages where installation was more feasible, and this list has now been approved.
The land allocation spans 30 districts. Some districts with the highest number of approved villages include Parbhani with 73, Nanded with 70, Latur with 67, Yavatmal with 63, Amravati with 61, Nashik with 60, and Raigad with 65. Gadchiroli has 48 villages, and Palghar has 14 villages, both of which include habitations of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
District collectors have been instructed to issue approvals within 15 days. They have also been directed to ensure coordination with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited to provide electricity supply, right of way for optical fibre cables, and other necessary support for the project.
Source PTI
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