The Centre has assured Parliament that it is taking steps to strengthen BSNL’s network and improve connectivity in Himachal Pradesh, addressing concerns over weak signals and frequent call drops in the hill state.
During the Lok Sabha Question Hour, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said the government has initiated monthly and quarterly performance reviews of BSNL circles, focusing on operational and financial parameters such as cable faults, repair timelines, and BTS uptime. “Our goal is to achieve at least 95% network uptime, with manpower redeployed as required,” he added.
Shimla MP Suresh Kashyap highlighted persistent network failures, especially in remote and border areas, noting that many villages still struggle with basic 2G connectivity. He also pointed out acute staff shortages in BSNL, with only 81 Senior Sub-Divisional Engineers (SDEs) out of 192 sanctioned posts, 165 Junior Telecom Officers (JTOs) out of 282, and 110 Junior Engineers (JEs) against 177 sanctioned posts, affecting maintenance and service restoration.
The Minister assured the House that under special connectivity schemes and the Digital India Fund, around 21,000 telecom towers are planned for remote and hilly regions, with 17,000 already installed. The Centre reaffirmed its commitment to improving teledensity and achieving universal connectivity across Himachal Pradesh in the coming months.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
