SRINAGAR, Sep 16 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a review meeting on strengthening telecom and digital communications infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir, with a particular focus on extending services to far-flung villages, dark zones and railway tunnels.
The meeting, attended by Minister for Information Technology Satish Sharma, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, several Administrative Secretaries, and officials of BSNL, discussed the status of ongoing projects and the challenges delaying their execution.

Officials from BSNL briefed the meeting on the progress of the Amended BharatNet Project (ABP) Phase-III, which aims to deliver high-speed internet to Gram Panchayats and rural areas. The Chief Minister directed that strict timelines be maintained and stressed the need for priority coverage of uncovered and remote habitations.
During the discussions, several issues were highlighted which require the intervention of the Government for timely completion of projects. These included early allotment of land for installation of telecom towers and equipment, and the expeditious grant of Right of Way permissions by departments such as R&B, PMGSY, BRO, and Forests for the laying of optical fibre cables.