BSNL Negotiating with MePDCL for Connectivity to Williamnagar

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd today said they are at an advanced stage of negotiation with the Meghalaya Power Distribution Company Ltd (MePDCL) to improve connectivity to Williamnagar town in East Garo Hills district, known for having the poorest connectivity in the entire country.

"We are in talks with MePDCL to have their OPGW line leased to us to improve connectivity. We hope to close the deal within one or two months," BSNL NE1 Circle division engineer Santanu Ghosh said.

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He said the company had failed to provide connectivity to the district headquarter due to various reasons including security and hence it was the poorest in terms of connectivity in the entire country.

Home to nearly 30,000 people, at present the headquarter is connected only through a 25 year-old microwave link from West Khasi Hills district headquarter, Nongstoin, he said, adding that another microwave link from Tura-Rongram and Arbella is also under construction.

"Under such circumstances, SWAN, DC and NIC connectivity could not be implemented in the district and their functioning also disrupted," the BSNL official said.

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According to Ghosh, BSNL will have to bear the cost for the OPGW lines to improve connectivity. Currently, he said, BSNL gets a revenue of only Rs 70 from one mobile connection in NE1 Circle.

Asked on the connectivity to South Garo Hills district, Ghosh said there was good connection with Baghmara, the district headquarter. However, the BSNL OPGW line to Chokpot got snapped and repair works were yet tobe started

Source: PTI