Question : Wi-Fi Facility

(a) whether 25 cities and archaeological monuments have been identified to provide free Wi-Fi services;

(b) if so, the details of the cities and sites thereof along with the criteria adopted for selection of such cities; State and city-wise;

(c) the expenditure likely to be incurred in this regard along with the service providers selected for the purpose;

(d) whether the Union Government has received proposals from State Governments including Delhi to initiate Wi-Fi facility and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the government thereto, State-wise; and

(e) whether any security concern is associated with it and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (c) Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) informed the Department of Telecommunications that they have decided to upgrade 25 monuments under its protection to the status of ‘Adarsh Smarak’ (Model Monuments). ASI informed that one of the facilities that these model monuments would provide to the visitors/tourists is ‘free wi-fi’ in the premises of the monument. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is providing the requisite technical support to the Ministry of Culture. A list of Model Monuments as received from ASI is given at Annexure-I.
Contd..2/-
-2-
Out of 25 locations, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has identified eight (08) Archaeological Monuments and RailTel has identified 03 locations for providing wi-fi services at no cost to Government. Details of locations are at Annexure-II. BSNL is providing free wi-fi service for first thirty (30) minutes in a day for maximum three occasions in a month. For other locations where funding for wi-fi service provision may be required, DoT has provided draft Expression of Interest (EOI) document to ASI. ASI will float EOIs for discovering the Implementation Partner along with funding required through a competitive process.
(d) No proposal has been received so far from the State Governments including the Government of Delhi.
(e) Security requirements are taken care of the concerned service providers as per licensing terms and conditions.


Annexure-I
List of 25 Monuments
S.N Monuments State
1. Leh Palace, Leh Jammu & Kashmir
2. Humayun Tomb Delhi
3. Qutub Complex Delhi
4. Hazardwari Palace, Murshidabad West Bengal
5. Red Fort Delhi
6. Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram Tamil Nadu
7. Elephanta Caves, Mumbai Maharashtra
8. Taj Mahal, Agra Uttar Pradesh
9. Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Uttar Pradesh
10. Kumbhalgarh Fort Rajasthan
11. Rani Ki Vav Gujarat
12. Hampi Karnataka
13. Jageshwar Temple Uttarakhand
14. Sravasti Uttar Pradesh
15. Sarnath Uttar Pradesh
16. Vaishali-Kohua Bihar
17. Khajuraho Madhya Pradesh
18. Mandu Madhya Pradesh
19. Martand Temple Jammu & Kashmir
20. Thanjaur - Brihadeshwar Tamil Nadu
21. St. Anglo Fort Kerala
22. Masrur Rock Cut Temple Himachal Pradesh
23. Rang Ghar, Sibagar Assam
24. Konark Temple Odisha
25. Daulatabad Fort Maharashtra
Annexure-II
List of ASI monuments identified to provide Wi-fi facility
Telecom Circle City Locations/Site Service Provider
Chennai Chennai Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram BSNL
Karnataka Bangalore Hampi BSNL
Madhya Pradesh Chhatarpur Khajuraho Western Temple Group BSNL
Odisha Puri Konark Temple BSNL
Tamil Nadu Thanjavur Brihadeshwar Temple BSNL
Uttar Pradesh (East) Varanasi Sarnath BSNL
Uttar Pradesh (West) Agra Taj Mahal BSNL
Fathepur Sikri BSNL
Delhi Delhi Red Fort RailTel
Delhi Delhi Humayaun Tomb RailTel
Delhi Delhi Qutub Minar RailTel


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