Chhattisgarh targets 1,056 BSNL towers by Dec 2026, seeks approval for 2,300 more
Raipur, July 23
Chhattisgarh aims to make 1,056 BSNL mobile towers operational by December 2026 and has submitted a proposal to the Centre for another 2,300 towers. The state has also received approval for a Rs 3,928 crore BharatNet Phase III project to strengthen digital connectivity across the state, Electronics and Information Technology Department Secretary Ankit Anand said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference in Raipur, Anand said the state has expedited land approvals for mobile towers by empowering collector-level committees to grant no-objection certificates (NOCs), significantly reducing delays.
"So, this 1056 work that we have done with BSNL... We are trying to make it all on-air by December 26," Anand said.
He added, "I am happy to report that out of 2398... there are only 3 cases which are forest clearance cases in which we have not been able to give land. Rest all are actually ongoing. Hopefully by December 26, we will be able to complete 1056 cases, which will be a big achievement."
Explaining the change in the approval process, Anand said the biggest bottleneck had been delays in obtaining land NOCs from multiple departments.
"The collector level committee has been given the right to give NOC of any land other than forest land... Otherwise, it took 8 months to give NOC. As a single tower cannot be followed in every department, this thing is now over," he said.
The state is also preparing for the next phase of telecom expansion and has sought approval from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for another 2,300 mobile towers.
"Our second attempt is to sanction the towers as much as possible... the proposal of 2300 towers has been presented to the Department of Telecommunications. Then in the next phase that tower will also be installed. Hopefully, the coverage... will have a huge impact," Anand said.
On broadband connectivity, Anand said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 3,928 crore for BharatNet Phase III in Chhattisgarh.
— ANI
Reader Comments
BharatNet Phase III with ₹3,928 crore? Wow, that's a huge investment. But let's be honest, we've heard such promises before. The real test will be whether they actually deliver connectivity to the remote villages, not just urban hubs. Also, 3 forest clearance cases still pending—hope that doesn't drag on forever.
This is the kind of infra push needed in tribal areas. BSNL towers are still the backbone of connectivity in places where Jio/Airtel don't go. But December 2026 seems far—why not accelerate? Every month of delay means kids can't study online, farmers can't check mandi prices. Good first step though.
Interesting to see the focus on BSNL. With private telcos dominating the market, it's good that the government is still investing in public infrastructure. The collector committee empowerment to approve NOCs in 8 months down to what? Should be much faster now. Hope this becomes a model for other states.
As a Chhattisgarh resident, I can tell you this is desperately needed. Many villages in Bastar still have zero connectivity. But Rs 3,928 crore for broadband? That's a lot of money—I hope there's proper oversight and audits. We don't want another case of funds getting stuck in middlemen. Implementation is key.
It's good to see the state government taking action, but I'm skeptical. The last time they promised towers in Naxal-affected areas, many never got built due to security issues. Also, why only B
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