Rudraprayag district administration’s flagship IT project being implemented during the ongoing Kedarnath Yatra-2015 to strengthen communication network with Wi-Fi internet connectivity has been granted ISO 9001:2008 certification. The certification is valid for the next three years for surveying, installing and commissioning local intranet, using unlicensed frequency band at Kedarnath valley up to the Kedarnath temple.
District magistrate cum chairman DDMA, Rudraprayag Dr Raghav langer said that the bid for the project was floated in April, 2015, by the District Disaster Management Authority, Rudraprayag, after conducting a pre-feasibility survey with the help of district NIC team. Conceived by the DM himself, the project aimed at creating a robust local wireless network using point-to-point and point-to-multi point wireless hoping technique to connect all the major locations along the Kedarnath trek route-Sitapur, Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Junglechatti, Bheembali, lincholi, Rudra point and Kedarnath temple.
DM said that a local intranet network had been created along the Kedar valley through a network of six towers erected at Sonprayag, Junglechatti, Bheembali, lincholi, Rudra point (base camp) and Kedarnath temple area. DM further said that the linking of this wireless internet signal with the already created local intranet network had activated the WiFi-internet 3G services along the yatra trek route, something which was considered impossible to be achieved for next few years, by the mobile service providers. Two wireless towers have been set up at village Thathi and Rampur respectively to carry from point Khat (Phata) to Sonprayag.
DM said the cost of the project was just Rs 69.66 lakhs. All equipment would go back to the ownership of DDMA, Rudraprayag after the yatra season 2016 ends. Till date, over 6000 yatris have used the facility of free WiFi-internet in Kedarnath. The internet facility along yatra route would be chargeable from next year, DM informed.
The district administration is planning the flagship IT project to be formally launched by the Chief Minister Uttarakhand in the coming days. It is expected that he would view the cameras installed at various yatra locations live. Besides, he would also do video conferencing with the staff posted at Kedarnath from his office in Dehradun or any other location of his choice. The in-charge Minister of district Rudraprayag, Pritam Singh Panwar has already done live streaming of cameras and video conferencing with Kedarnath from Collectorate Rudraprayag on May 4.