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Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the BSNL developed 4G modern technology, championed by the call for “Swadeshi” (indigenous), will bring a major revolution in realising the dream of a developed India (Viksit Bharat).
“The fully indigenously developed Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) 4G system will connect many villages, enabling rural populations across the country to connect with the world. This system will facilitate easy access to various services like health, education, agriculture, industry, and business with a single click, allowing citizens from all strata to benefit. It will also bring transparency to government work. Technology does not discriminate based on individual, caste, religion, or wealth; it is a seamless, transparent system,” he said.
Under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative, the BSNL 4G technology, developed entirely within the country, was launched on Saturday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jharsuguda, Odisha.
The service for Maharashtra was inaugurated by Fadnavis in Pune, where he presided over the function.
The event was organised at Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Cultural Hall in Yerwada. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, State Minister for Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil, State Minister Madhuri Misal, MPs Dr. Medha Kulkarni, Shrirang Barne, MLAs Hemant Rasne, Siddharth Shirole, Bapusaheb Pathare, Bhimrao Tapkir, along with Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal, R K Goyal, BSNL Delhi’s Human Resources Officer Kalyan Nipani, State Chief General Manager Harinder Kumar Makkar, Nana Bhangire, Jagdish Mulik, Dheeraj Ghate, and others were present on the dais.
The CM said that communication technology is of great importance in moving the country forward on the path of development. “This technology can spur development in every village. The 4G system, created by BSNL by uniting domestic companies under the ‘Swadeshi’ banner, has the potential to be further developed into 5G.”
He remarked that whenever the country faced challenges or attempts were made to pressure it, India responded strongly to the world by pooling its knowledge, brilliance, and duty. With this indigenous creation, India has become the fifth country in the world to develop a complete end-to-end indigenous system.
Fadnavis announced that the state government has decided to make eleven hundred services available online soon. The indigenous 4G system, reaching every village, will be crucial for the implementation of these services, benefiting citizens in rural and tribal areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde called this a moment of great pride for the nation after the industrial revolution. He credited Prime Minister Modi’s farsightedness and determination for establishing the country’s identity in the field of technology. Shinde affirmed that the revolutionary flag of all BSNL officers and employees will continue to flutter through the creation of this indigenous system.
He termed this as a “soaring leap of the power called India,” which propels the country vigorously towards self-reliance. He noted that BSNL, which was previously running at a loss, has managed to turn a profit of Rs 262 crore after 18 years. This system will be immensely useful to the people in rural areas and gives new strength to the dream of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Raksha Khadse stated that the dream of a self-reliant and developed India envisioned by Prime Minister Modi is coming to fruition through BSNL’s fully indigenous technology.
This technology will reach a large extent into rural and tribal areas, fostering development across all sectors in over 25,000 villages. The indigenous nature of the technology also ensures the nation’s security. She highlighted that BSNL developed this technology in just 22 months.
In his welcoming address, Harinder Kumar Makkar stated that this launch is not just a symbol of technical advancement but also a marker of India’s global leadership in telecom innovation and manufacturing.
He added that this technology will empower the education, health, agriculture, and industry sectors, accelerating economic empowerment.
The dignitaries were welcomed by Harinder Kumar Makkar, Kalyan Sagar Nipani, Shamwel Bhatambre, H.K. Lanjewar, and R.K. Agarwal. The program was anchored by Shilpa Deshpande.
