VNL bags North-East connectivity project of BSNL  

Vihaan Network Limited (VNL) bagged Rs. 1648 crore telecom infrastructure project of state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd for providing connectivity in over 4000 villages in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

This project is part of the Rs.5,336.18 crore worth Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the North-Eastern Region (NER) comprising 8 states which was approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2014. The project envisages providing mobile coverage in 8,621 unconnected villages and seamless coverage along National Highways in the North-East region through 6,673 towers, and will be funded from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

Under Phase-I of the project, which is to be executed by state owned operator BSNL, 2817 sites are to be installed to cover 4118 remotely located villages and tough terrains in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam.

Projects are to be executed solely through indigenous technology. As per the project condition, VNL will roll out around 1,893 mobile towers in Arunachal Pradesh.

VNL had also completed successfully a BSNL project last year for creating infrastructure in LWE areas after it bagged the contract as the lowest bidder in December last year for providing voice and data connectivity in the most challenging terrain.

The Union cabinet then chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had had approved the installation and maintainence of 2,199 mobile towers in Naxal-affected states. Funding came through the USOF supported scheme.

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VNL Chairman Rajiv Mehrotra said, “We are deeply honoured for becoming a partner for BSNL’s project in difficult areas of North East. It is both a challenge and an opportunity for the homegrown company and we consider the awarding of the project is also the recognition of our work for connecting the Left Wing Extremist areas in 10 states. We are committed to successfully complete the Prime Minister’s dream project and wish to express our gratitude to Hon’ble Communications Minister Manoj Sinha and BSNL Chairman Anupam Shrivastava, for reposing faith in us.”

The Union Cabinet then chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had accorded an approval to install and maintain 2,199 mobile towers in Naxal-affected states. Funding came through the USOF.