Odisha Targets to Provide High Speed Internet Connectivity to Every Panchayat By April 2021

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has set an ambitious target to provide high speed internet connectivity to all gram panchayats in the State in a phase manner by April 2021.

A decision to this effect was taken during the State-Level Implementation Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy over digital mode from Lokseva Bhawan today.

Reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary directed all officials concerned to expedite implementation of Phase-II Bharat Net programme and provide connectivity to all GPs by April 2021.

“The digital infrastructure will be an enabler of growth and development in the State”, he said.

A roadmap was set to give phase-wise connection to the GPs and complete the entire process by coming April.

The Chief Secretary also directed to give Wi-Fi connectivity at main activity points of the GPs.

The Chief Secretary asked officials to ensure high bandwidth and quality connectivity in all GPs. He directed the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department to operationalise the internet points at the GPs as and when the connections are available.
Secretary of Electronics and Telecommunication (E & IT) Department Manoj Kumar Mishra outlined the administrative, technical and financial issues of the discussion.

It was decided that each GP would have five connection points for utilization by development institutions and Government offices. The main commercial place of the GP would get Wi-Fi connection.

The telemedicine centers, schools and agriculture kiosks would be connected for facilitating health care, e-learning and profitable agri-commerce.

“So far 22,541 kms of optical fiber cable has been laid against the target of 27,610 kms. The balance of 5,069 kms will be completed soon,” said Secretary E & IT Mishra.

As of now, 4,651 GPs and 230 blocks have been provided the connectivity. Rest blocks and GPs will be linked up in phases, he added.