Jammu: The Centre is conducting a village- level survey to prepare a detailed project report to improve tele-connectivity in the state, the government said Tuesday.

Information and Technology Minister Imran Raza Ansari said the Union Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications, was conducting the survey.

“So far the survey has been completed in 16 districts of the state and is expected to be completed in rest of the (six) districts soon. After completion of the survey, the department can finalise the DPR (detailed project report) for intensifying tele-connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

In a written reply in the Assembly to a question by Congress MLA Nawang Rigzin Jora on poor tele-connectivity in Ladakh region, Ansari said BSNL provides telecom services in Ladakh on optical fibre cable or satellite connectivity, which is being improved upon to block and panchayat levels in the second phase of the BharatNet project of the Union government.

He said the Union Ministry of Communications has set up 43 public Wi-Fi spots in rural exchanges of Ladakh.

BSNL has provided broadband connectivity to 168 panchayats in Jammu, Samba, Budgam, Ganderbal and Srinagar districts in the first phase of BharatNet project.

The minister said the broadband connectivity to the rest of the panchayats would be provided in the second phase. (PTI)

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