Ala reviews progress, underscored importance
LEH: The union territory of Ladakh has taken a digital leap with expediting progress of implementation of the 4G saturation project, and Amended BharatNet project across the region.
In this regard, Secretary, Information Technology Department, UT Ladakh, Shashanka Ala, chaired two meetings on Friday to review the progress and implementation of the 4G saturation project and Amended BharatNet project in the UT.
During the meeting, the Secretary conducted a detailed assessment of BSNL’s on-air 4G status, covering Civil, Army, ITBP, and media-on-air sites.
She also took stock of the ongoing work on Army OFC routes, the status of tower installations, and the progress of approved Work Category-V sites and Army locations identified under the project.
Further, the meeting reviewed road related challenges affecting site accessibility and project execution. Secretary Ala directed the concerned agencies to expedite field activities, ensure the timely resolution of logistical constraints, and maintain close coordination to achieve seamless 4G coverage across the region.
The Secretary emphasised that saturation of 4G connectivity will significantly strengthen digital services, improve communication networks, and enhance public service delivery in Ladakh’s remote and high-altitude areas.
In her second meeting of Amended Bharat Net project the Secretary examined the status of the physical survey works currently being undertaken by Sterlite Technologies, in consortium with Dilip Buildcon.
She underscored the critical importance of ensuring that the BharatNet initiative extends to far-flung, remote, and connectivity deficient areas of Ladakh, thereby promoting equitable and reliable digital access for all communities in the region.
The review meeting was attended by representatives from BSNL, Sterlite Technologies, Dilip Buildcon, and technical consultants from the IT Department. Officials posted outside Leh participated through video conferencing, ensuring inclusive representation from across the UT.
Reaffirming Ladakh’s commitment to building a robust and modern digital infrastructure, the Secretary highlighted that the Amended BharatNet implementation will play a pivotal role in enhancing connectivity, improving service delivery, and enabling digital empowerment across the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by General Manager, BSNL, Leh; Chief Signal Officer, HQ 14 Corps, Army 14 Corps (Signals); Circle Head, TCS, J&K; Consultants from IT Department, with the officials stationed outside joined via video conference.
