(a) the target fixed for the number of telephone exchanges to be set up in hilly and inaccessible areas in the country particularly in Himachal Pradesh during the current financial year;
(b) the names of the places where telephone exchanges could not be set up due to non-availability of Multi Channel per Carrier (MCPC) and other equipments on time; and
(c) the steps taken to achieve the target?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) It is proposed to set up 464 telephone exchanges in the hilly and inaccessible areas in the country and 60 nos. of telephone exchanges in Himachal Pradesh during the current financial year.
(b) There are no such places where telephone exchanges could not be set up due to non-availability of Multi Channel Per Carrier(MCPC) and other equipments.
(c) Procurement action has already been taken. Purchase Orders have been issued and supply of equipments has started. Installation of telephone exchanges and laying of cables and OFC (Optical Fibre Cable) are under progress.