Union Cabinet on approved the construction of 32,152 km of roads at a cost of `33,822 crore and mobile connectivity in 7,287 uncovered villages across five states at an estimated cost of `6,466 crore by establishing mobile towers. Noting that a better road network brings with it several benefits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Cabinet's decision on expanding road network will enhance rural development and help remote areas of the northeast as well as areas affected by the Left Wing Extremism. “An important Cabinet decision, which will take the fruits of technology to our Aspirational Districts across five states and contribute to social empowerment," Modi said. Briefing media on the `6,466 crore worth mobile phone towers in remote areas, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said these uncovered villages of 44 aspirational districts across five states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha will get 4G-based mobile services. "So, a total 7,287 uncovered villages will get telecom towers and services, and lakhs of people will get connectivity," Thakur said. The work related to provision of 4G mobile services in identified uncovered villages would be awarded through an open competitive bidding process as per extant Universal Service Obligations Fund (USOF) procedures.