Jammu Tawi, Jan 29: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired the 10th State Broadband Committee (SBC) meeting to review the progress of major digital infrastructure initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, including the 4G Saturation Project, Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP), 5G preparedness, Call Before You Dig (CBuD) and other allied telecom projects.
The meeting was briefed by Secretary, IT, Dr Piyush Singla, who outlined the progress made since the last SBC meeting held in October.
The Chief Secretary acknowledged steady advancement across projects but stressed the need to accelerate execution to meet stipulated timelines and ensure completion of all sanctioned sites.
Reviewing the 4G Saturation Project, Dulloo was informed that work orders have been issued for 775 mobile tower sites to provide 4G connectivity to uncovered and remote villages, especially in border, hilly and far-flung areas. The project is being implemented under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) of the Government of India, with BSNL as the executing agency. Land has been allotted at all identified sites and power supply extended to most locations with support from the Power Development Department. The Chief Secretary directed agencies to expedite installation and commissioning, particularly for 269 sites targeted for completion by March 31, 2026, and to fast-track approvals for remaining sites.
The meeting also reviewed saturation of 1,421 border villages, underlining the importance of reliable connectivity in strategically important areas to bridge the digital divide and strengthen service delivery.
On the Call Before You Dig (CBuD) platform, the Chief Secretary emphasized mandatory usage by all departments to prevent damage to underground utilities. He directed regular monitoring through District Level Telecom Committee (DLTC) meetings, which are now being held across all districts.
Progress under the Amended BharatNet Programme was also reviewed. The project aims to provide optical fibre connectivity to all Gram Panchayats with at least 98 percent network uptime. Achievements include signing of agreements with Project Implementation Agencies, setting up of a Network Operations Centre in Jammu, centralized billing, and resolution of inter-departmental issues through a tripartite MoU.
On 5G readiness, initiatives related to Right of Way facilitation, street furniture mapping and capacity building were highlighted, including a workshop held in November 2025 in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications.
Reviewing the Samriddh Gram Panchayat Pilot Project, covering 2,234 schools and 1,138 rural Primary Health Centres through FTTH connectivity, the Chief Secretary stressed the importance of digital empowerment at the grassroots level.
The meeting concluded with Dulloo reiterating the government’s commitment to achieving universal digital connectivity across Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen governance, improve service delivery and promote inclusive development, particularly in remote and border areas.
