DigitalConnectivity – Chhattisgarh Seeks Faster Approval for Mobile Towers in Remote Regions
DigitalConnectivity –Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday urged the Centre to speed up approval for 2,305 additional mobile towers under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) scheme during a meeting with Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia at Sanchar Bhawan. The proposal is aimed at strengthening mobile and internet services in the state’s remote, tribal and geographically challenging regions, where reliable connectivity remains limited. The expansion is expected to improve access to public services and help bridge the digital gap between urban and rural communities.
Push for Better Connectivity in Tribal Areas
According to the state government, the proposed telecom infrastructure will extend high-speed network coverage to villages that continue to face communication challenges. Improved mobile connectivity is expected to make services such as digital banking, online education, telemedicine and e-governance more accessible to residents living in isolated parts of the state. Officials believe the project will also support economic opportunities by connecting more communities to digital platforms.
Centre Already Approved Additional Towers
During the discussion, the Chief Minister expressed appreciation to the Central Government for previously approving 577 mobile towers for Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected and other underserved areas of Chhattisgarh. These towers are intended to improve communication facilities in regions where network coverage has historically remained weak due to difficult terrain and security-related challenges.
The state administration said the earlier approvals have laid the foundation for a broader effort to strengthen digital infrastructure across districts that have remained outside reliable telecom coverage.
State Speeds Up Land Clearances
To ensure timely implementation of the project, the Chhattisgarh government has accelerated the process of providing land and necessary permissions to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), which will execute the tower installations.
Officials stated that 489 land clearances, along with the required no-objection certificates (NOCs), have already been handed over to BSNL, allowing work to begin at those sites. Approval for the remaining 88 identified locations is currently under process and is expected to be completed soon, according to a government spokesperson.
Proposal Moves Towards Final Approval
The state government said the Department of Telecommunications has already recommended the proposal for the additional 2,305 tower locations. BSNL is now awaiting approval from the Digital Bharat Nidhi Office to begin preliminary site surveys before construction can proceed at the remaining locations.
If the proposal receives final clearance, the combined total of newly approved towers in the state would exceed 2,800. Officials believe this expansion could significantly improve communication networks across rural Chhattisgarh and help ensure that even the most remote villages gain dependable mobile connectivity.
Digital Access Seen as Key to Inclusive Growth
Speaking after the meeting, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said expanding telecom infrastructure goes beyond improving mobile signals. He noted that stronger digital networks can make government services, healthcare, education and banking more accessible to people living in remote tribal and border areas, reducing the challenges created by geographical isolation.
The state government also expressed confidence that an early decision from the Centre would support inclusive development, reduce the digital divide and strengthen Chhattisgarh’s participation in the country’s growing digital economy. Officials believe improved connectivity will play an important role in delivering essential public services while creating new opportunities for education, business and financial inclusion across underserved communities.