Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad arrived here on Sunday on a two-day visit. As per the instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Minister would establish direct contact with the people during his stay here, official sources said.
Besides attending several programmes here, Prasad would also visit the ancient temple town of Ujjain to pay obeisance to Mahakaleshwar temple on Monday morning.
Transport Minister and in-charge of Indore Bhupendra Singh welcomed Prasad at the airport.
The Telecom and Information Technology Minister said here at an Indore management association function that the number of internet users in the country is expected to go up to 50 crore, from the present over 40 crore, in the next 5-8 months.
"The number of people using internet has crossed 40 crore in the country at present. I am expecting this number to go up to 50 crore in the next 5-8 months. According to our estimate, out of these, 70 per cent people are going to access internet through mobile phones," Prasad said.
About 100 crore people, out of the population of India of nearly 125 crore, have mobile phones, the Minister said, adding that every month, 20-35 lakh mobile users are added.
"The NDA Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is trying to awaken the efficiency and innovation in the public. We are constantly simplifying the Government policies and procedures for good governance and development," he said.
"Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Government is known for construction of national highways. The present Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Government will be known for setting up information highways," Prasad said.
The Union Minister also said that there are about 95 crore Aadhaar card holders in the country and the Government has made the Aadhaar card mandatory for reaping the benefits of many schemes to promote good governance.
If the Supreme Court gives the nod, then the Aadhaar card will be made mandatory for all Government schemes, he added. Prasad also said that the Government is working towards connecting 2.50 lakh gram panchayats in the country through optical fibre network.