(a) the number of telephone exchanges set up in rural areas of all the districts of West Bengal;
(b) whether there are any more pending Telephone Exchanges to be set up in different districts of West Bengal; and
(c) if so, the steps taken in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHOK PRADHAN)
(a) Sir, 1066 Telephone Exchanges have been set up in rural areas of all the districts of West Bengal.
(b) Yes, Sir.
(c) Following steps are taken to improve rural connectivity:-
(i) Opening of new exchanges where techno-economic viability is there.
(ii) Providing WLL to rural populace progressively by installing at least one number of BTS in each SDCA.
(iii) Details of new exchanges planned are as under:-
S.No. Name of district No. of telephone Exchanges to be set up
1. Murshidabad 02
2. Cooch Behar 06
3. Nadia 04
4. Malda 01
5. Midnapore 04 6. Howrah 04
7 Hooghly 01
8. 24 Parganas (North) 02
9. 24 Parganas (South) 02
Total 26