Calls for faster 4G, BharatNet rollout in J&K
JAMMU, JANUARY 29: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo Thursday chaired the 10th State Broadband Committee (SBC) Meeting to review the status of key digital infrastructure initiatives, including 4G Saturation Project, Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP), 5G Readiness, Call Before You Dig (CBuD) and other allied telecom projects being implemented across J&K.
The meeting, as per an official statement, convened by the Information Technology Department was attended by ACS, PWD; Commissioner Secretary, Forests; DDG, LSA, J&K; Secretary, Information; Secretary, RDD; Representatives from BSNL and other concerned officers from different departments here.
Deputy Commissioners attended through video conferencing from their respective offices.
During this meeting a detailed presentation was made by the Secretary, IT, Dr Piyush Singla on the incremental progress achieved since the last SBC meeting held in October. The Chief Secretary took note of the steady advancement across multiple verticals and emphasized the need for accelerating execution timelines to ensure timely completion of all sanctioned sites.
While reviewing the 4G Saturation Project, the Chief Secretary was informed that work orders have been issued for 775 mobile tower sites, aimed at providing 4G mobile connectivity to uncovered and remote villages, particularly in border, hilly and far-flung areas. The project is being implemented under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) of the Government of India, with BSNL as the executing agency.
The Secretary further apprised that land has already been allotted at all identified locations, and power supply has been extended to most sites with the support of the Power Development Department (PDD). The Chief Secretary impressed upon the implementing agencies to further pace up installation and commissioning works, particularly for the 269 sites targeted for completion by March 31, 2026, and to fast-track approvals for the remaining locations.
The meeting also reviewed the status of border village saturation, covering 1,421 border villages, and stressed the importance of ensuring seamless connectivity in strategically important areas to bridge the digital divide and enhance service delivery.
Reviewing the Call Before You Dig (CBuD) platform, the Chief Secretary stressed strict adherence to its usage by all departments and agencies to prevent damage to underground utilities. He directed that the matter be regularly monitored through District Level Telecom Committee (DLTC) meetings, which are now being convened across all districts.
The Amended Bharat Net Programme (ABP) was also reviewed in detail. It was informed that the project, funded by Digital Bharat Nidhi and owned by the Department of Telecommunications, aims to provide optical fibre connectivity to all Gram Panchayats with a minimum 98 percent network uptime. Key milestones achieved include signing of agreements with Project Implementation Agencies, establishment of a Network Operations Centre (NOC) at Jammu, centralized billing mechanisms, and resolution of inter-departmental issues through a tripartite MoU.
On 5G preparedness, the IT Department highlighted initiatives taken for Right of Way (RoW) facilitation, 5G street furniture mapping, and capacity building, including a one-day workshop on 5G and RoW organized in November 2025 in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
The Chief Secretary while assessing the rollout of the Samriddh Gram Panchayat Pilot Project, which seeks to digitally empower rural institutions through FTTH connectivity, covering 2,234 schools and 1,138 Primary Health Centres in rural areas. He observed that digital connectivity at the grassroots level is critical for improving governance, education, healthcare and entrepreneurship.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reiterated the importance of close coordination between BSNL, district administrations and line departments, directing that district-level issues be addressed promptly to avoid project delays. He also called for regular DLTC meetings and time-bound redressal of issues through relevant mechanisms.
The meeting concluded with the Chief Secretary reiterating the Government’s firm commitment to achieve the universal digital connectivity across Jammu & Kashmir. He emphasized that timely completion of these flagship projects would play a transformative role in strengthening governance, improving service delivery, and ensuring inclusive socio-economic development, particularly in remote and border areas of the Union Territory.
