Maharashtra Government Approves Land Allocation for BSNL Mobile Towers in 930 Villages

The Maharashtra government has sanctioned land allocation in 930 villages for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to establish mobile towers, enhancing internet access in rural regions. This decision was detailed in an official order on Thursday. The Revenue and Forest Department's notification stated that BSNL requested land for "ground-based towers and hoisting of equipment" to boost 4G coverage, especially in remote and tribal areas.

For each designated site, 200 square metres of land will be provided at no cost, following a cabinet decision from November 29, 2022. Initially, in April 2023, 2,751 villages were approved for this project. However, technical challenges hindered tower installation in several locations. Consequently, BSNL submitted a revised list of 930 villages, which has now received approval.

Land Allocation Across Districts

The annexure accompanying the order specifies that the land allocation spans 30 districts. Notable allocations include 73 villages in Parbhani, 70 in Nanded, 67 in Latur, and 63 in Yavatmal. Other significant allocations are 61 villages in Amravati, 60 in Nashik, and 65 in Raigad. Additionally, Gadchiroli has 48 villages and Palghar has 14 villages included.

These areas encompass a substantial number of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group habitations. The notification further instructed district collectors to grant approvals within a fortnight. They are also tasked with facilitating electricity supply and ensuring right of way for optical fibre cables.

Infrastructure Support and Coordination

The district collectors must collaborate with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited to provide essential infrastructure support. This includes ensuring the availability of electricity and other necessary facilities to aid the installation process.

This initiative aims to significantly improve internet connectivity in rural Maharashtra by expanding BSNL's network reach through these newly allocated sites.

With inputs from PTI