Cellphone towers to be set up in Naxal-affected areas in 15 months

While replying to questions raised by Congress member Ashok Chavan and Supriya Sule of the NCP, Prasad said the Government was concerned about the coverage and quality of telecommunication services in these areas. A proposal to install mobile towers at 1,836 locations in states affected by Left-wing extremism with funding support from Universal Service Obligation Fund has already been approved, he added.

Earlier, he told Jayshree Patel of the BJP that the Centre will extend broadband facility to every village with the cooperation of states. He said more than 1.34 lakh internet enabled centres had been set up in rural areas. Responding to a question by Ramdas Tadas of the BJP, Prasad told Lok Sabha that the government had decided to open 80 Gramin Dak Sewa Post Offices and 80 sub-post offices.