A mobile tower may be ubiquitous in most parts of India, but in Bijapur, a sprawling 6,500 sq km district in Chhattisgarh that is one of the worst-hit by Left-Wing Extremism, it is a means to bring villagers living under the shadow of Maoists closer to the mainstream. Over the last 18 months, as operations against Maoists have picked up pace, the local administration has also embarked on a mission to bolster mobile connectivity, installing twice as many mobile towers as compared to the previous two years. The Bastar region comprises seven districts — Bastar, Kondagaon, Kanker, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma. A look at anti-Maoist operations indicates Bijapur is the worst-hit, which makes implementing development activities a challenge, officials say. According to officials, Maoists destroy mobile towers as they believe these will help police informers in remote villages alert security forces. Maoists have set on fire eight mobile towers in the district since 2022, including six in 2024-2025. However, the pushback by forces since 2024 has helped the administration install 48 mobile towers between January 2024 and June 2025, providing coverage to 110 villages in Bijapur. In comparison, 24 towers were installed in 2022 and 2023. One of the mobile towers installed last month was in the Kutru area, where eight security personnel and a civilian driver were killed in an IED blast in January. “As of mid-2025, significant strides have been made in enhancing mobile connectivity across Bijapur, particularly in its remote and previously insurgency-affected areas. Bijapur likely has around 45% of its villages covered by mobile network, with approximately 300 villages having coverage, many of which are currently part of ongoing government tower deployment efforts,” District Collector Sambit Mishra told The Indian Express. Still, nearly 400 villages in Bijapur district continue to experience limited networks. Detailing the challenges, Bijapur SP Jitendra Kumar Yadav said, “We made 20 camps in the last two years. It is difficult to install mobile towers; in the last two years, six towers have been sabotaged. We are able to install towers close to the camps. In a security vacuum, this is always difficult.” “Ongoing initiatives are expected to continue to bridge these gaps, bringing essential services and connectivity to all corners of the district. Erecting mobile towers is challenging due to tough terrain, limited connectivity, and persistent security threats. Yet, every mobile tower we install brings a village closer to the mainstream — enabling digital access, financial inclusion, and emergency services. The grateful smile on the face of the villagers makes every effort worth it.”
