In a move to push IT based government interface with people and to make mobile connectivity easier, the Narendra Modi government has set the target to provide support to state governments and municipal bodies for launching Wi-Fi services in urban areas and universities.
BJP’s poll agenda included creating “islands” where Wi-Fi connectivity will be made available to expedite the e-governance across the broad, particularly in urban areas. Sources said that the telecom department submitted before PM on Saturday that they would get approval of “competent authority” for this project by next March.
The department will also follow for Cabinet approval a scheme aimed at providing mobile phone connectivity to all uncovered villages in Himalayan states. There is also a proposal to get Cabinet approval for comprehensive telecom development in the North East region. Sources said that in a comprehensive presentation of all key infrastructure ministries, the Planning Commission submitted that the department has the target to award works to set up 500 mobile towers in the districts affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).
Moreover, this year it targets to connect 50,000 panchayats through national optical fibre network (NOFN).
Using IT to bring governance close to people’s lives does not end here. Even the road transport ministry is launching a new web portal that will help contractors to keep track of their pending bills and where these are lying. “Though at present the facility for uploading the bill won’t be available, one can easily find out the status of his claims. This will end the practice of contractors visiting government offices to get their payment,” a ministry official said.
Sources said that transportation and communication have got maximum focus of the new government. On Saturday, the targets put before the PM included starting of feasibility study of the ambitious Diamond Quadrilateral project for bullet trains from August 15.
Officials said that PM would take another meeting on the infrastructure targets next month. “Some ministries will make certain changes in the targets set by them. It would be much clearer next month,” said one official.
