Agartala (Tripura) July 11: Tripura takes a digital leap after Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad, today unveiled the foundation stone plaque for establishing an International Gateway (IGW) for internet services in Agartala.
Speaking at the event held at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala, Shri Prasad stated that the IGW project will significantly enhance telecom services, particularly internet connectivity, to international standards in Tripura and the entire Northeast region.
He announced that Rs. 670 crore will be spent to expand BSNL services and improve the overall telecom infrastructure in Tripura.
The Next Generation Network (NGN) has been completed in four locations in the state, with work ongoing in six others.
The government also plans to set up 70 Wi-Fi hotspots in the state. Prasad further noted that all eight districts of Tripura will be brought under the National Knowledge Network (NKN) project, and gram panchayats will also be provided with internet services.
He added that the government has allocated Rs. 5,000 crore for telecom services in the Northeast.
Highlighting the initiatives of the Government of India, Shri Prasad emphasized that information is the key driver of empowerment.
Over the past year, the government has taken several positive steps to leverage this for national development. He mentioned that the Government of India has launched Digital India, Make in India, and Skill India initiatives for the overall development of the country’s citizens.
Regarding BSNL’s role in advancing the IT sector, he noted two significant measures: free calls of any type during night hours (9 PM to 7 AM) and free incoming roaming services introduced by BSNL.
At the event, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy stated that the IGW project marks the beginning of a new era in internet services for Tripura and the Northeast.
He described the project as a symbol of India-Bangladesh friendship and a crucial step toward advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India program.
He expressed hope that the project would resolve issues like call drops and slow internet services in the state. He thanked all stakeholders, including the Government of Bangladesh, for their contributions to the IGW project.
Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, speaking at the event, emphasized that development in Tripura is not possible without improvements in communication, particularly telecom infrastructure.
Despite the abundance of natural resources in the Northeast, the region lags in telecom and other infrastructure. He stressed the need for enhancing and expanding BSNL services in the state.
BSNL’s CMD, Anupam Shrivastava, elaborated on the organization’s plans, stating that the IGW project will cost Rs. 20 crore to implement, with an additional Rs. 7.2 crore annually as bandwidth lease fees to Bangladesh.
He highlighted that the project will bring significant benefits to sectors like education and banking in the state. Notably, there are five IGWs in India, and Agartala’s IGW, launched today, becomes the sixth.
The event was attended by Tripura’s Information Technology Minister Tapan Chakraborty, MP Jharna Das Baidya, BSNL’s CGMT for NE-1 D.P. Singh, and other distinguished guests.
