(a) whether the Government have taken any initiative for modernization of telegraph services in West Bengal;
(b) if so, the details thereof; district-wise;
(c) whether any budgetary allocation has been made for the purpose during current financial year;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by which the modernization of telegraph work is expected to be completed in West Bengal?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The telegraph services in West Bengal have been modernized by inducting micro-processor based Store and Forward Message Switching System (SFMSS) of 128-Lines in Central Telegraph Office Calcutta, Electronic Key Board Concentrators (EKBCs) and appropriate terminal devices. The district-wise details are given in the Annexure.
(c) & (d): No separate budget allocation has been made for this purpose. However, the requirements are met from the budget allocation made for Telex and Telegraph works.
(e) The modernization is an ongoing process and such works are carried out based on demand and need.
ANNEXURE
DISTRICT-WISE DETAILS OF MODERNISATION
Sl. No. Name of District Modernised Terminal Electronic Keyboard Concentrators
1 BANKURA 8 1 2 BIRBHUM 12 1 3 BURDWAN 38 4 4 CALCUTTA 31 6 5 COOCHBEHAR 14 1 6 DAKSHIN DINAJPUR 3 1 7 DARJEELING 23 3 8 HOOGHLY 17 2 9 HOWRAH 10 1 10 JALPAIGURI 7 1 11 MALDA 11 1 12 MIDNAPORE 29 3 13 MURSHIDABAD 17 1 14 NADIA 9 1 15 NORTH 24 PARGANA 13 1 16 PURULIA 10 1 17 SOUTH 24 PARGANA 9 - 18 UTTAR DINAJPUR 3 1