To provide data connectivity to more areas, the State Government has taken up 2,925 gram panchayats (GPs) for broadband connectivity through optical fiber under the Bharat Net Phase-II programme.

It was revealed at the State-Level Implementation Committee meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi at the secretariat here on Wednesday. Electronics and Information Technology Principal Secretary CJ Venugopal presented the updates and outlined the issues for discussion.

Padhi directed OPTCL to complete the survey work for Phase-II by June-end. He also asked the BSNL and BBNL authorities to expedite the service connection to the GPs to which optical fiber has already been laid in Phase-I of Bharat Net Programme.

BSNL was also asked to provide the list of the GPs to which optical fiber has been laid to the Government of Odisha in Panchayati Raj Department for speedy follow up. Development Commissioner Asit Kumar Tripathy advised the BSNL and BBNL to do effective arrangements at ground level for ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and proper maintenance of the infrastructure.

Venugopal appraised that around 3,810 GPs and 181 blocks have been taken up under Phase-I of the programme. So far, 2,094 GPs have been made service ready and handed over to BSNL for service connection. Out of that 231 connections have been made functional.

Energy Secretary and OPTCL CMD Hemant Kumar Sharma appraised that 2,925 GPs in 30 districts have been taken up under Phase-II of the programme. The scope of the work includes optical cable connectivity from block to BSNL exchange and then from the exchange to GPs and other service points. Presently survey work is going on. So far, 2,771 GPs and 2,80,000 pole locations have been surveyed and geo tagged.

Chief Secretary Sri directed to cover all Government institutions at block and GP level in Phase-II connectivity.