Bhubaneswar, Jun 18: In a major push to strengthen digital connectivity across Odisha, the state government has initiated steps to extend 4G mobile services to remote, tribal and telecom-deprived regions. Under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN)-funded 4G Saturation Project, 707 new mobile towers will be installed across 24 districts of the state.
To ensure timely implementation of the project, the Odisha government has directed district collectors to expedite the allotment of government land required for tower installation. Additional Chief Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Vishal Kumar Dev, has written to all collectors, instructing them to provide advance possession of nearly 2,000 square feet of government land at each identified location and issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) at the earliest.
The move follows intervention by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who recently urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to facilitate land allocation for the project. In his communication, Scindia highlighted the Centre’s efforts to improve telecom connectivity in Odisha’s underserved and difficult-to-access regions.
According to official data, 3,602 telecom towers are currently operational across Odisha, while construction of another 683 towers is underway. Additionally, 894 new sites have been approved under the project, of which 707 are awaiting land allotment.
The proposed expansion will primarily benefit tribal and hilly districts, including Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh. Several villages in these districts continue to face poor or non-existent mobile network coverage, affecting communication and access to digital services.
Officials said NOCs have already been issued for 294 locations due to proactive efforts by several district administrations, enabling construction work to progress rapidly. The state government has now categorized the remaining approvals as “Most Urgent” and directed authorities to complete the land transfer process without delay.
The project is expected to significantly improve digital access, support e-governance initiatives, and enhance communication infrastructure in some of Odisha’s most remote regions.
