Question : Mobile towers in Aspirational districts

(a) whether the Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of mobile service/towers in the uncovered villages in aspirational districts of Odisha;

(b) if so, the details of the amount of funds being spent on this project in Odisha including Kalahandi and Nuapada districts;

(c) the number of villages where approval has been given for setting up of towers alongwith the number of persons likely to be benefitted there from; and

(d) the details thereof and the time by which the said task is targeted to be completed?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS
(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a) & (b) The Union Cabinet has approved a Scheme for provisioning of 4G Mobile Coverage in 7287 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand & Odisha. Under this scheme, 3933 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts of Odisha (including that of Kalahandi and Nuapada Districts) are included at an approved cost of Rs. 3219 crore.

(c) & (d) In Odisha, 2379 towers are planned to cover 3933 uncovered villages and the people living therein will be benefited. The project time-line is 18 months from the date of signing of the Agreement with the Implementing Agency for the project.