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NEW DELHI: Reliance Jio has been reprimanded by the department of telecom (DoT) for “extremely poor” pace of progress in implementing government-funded telecom infrastructure projects in Odisha, with delays happening despite commitments made before communications minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
During a recent review, it was found that in the state, out of 2,379 sites planned within the scope of aspirational projects, only three sites were commissioned even after eight months of the project being signed. Similarly, in the LWE-II (Left-wing extremism) project, against 332 sites, only 102 sites were commissioned, sources told TOI.
Jio has been asked to speed up implementation of the projects, and DoT has instructed the company’s CEO to immediately look into the matter. Questions sent to Jio remained unanswered. The projects are funded through the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF), a digital outreach programme of the government that, among others, pays for infra expansion of network in far-flung areas, aspirational districts, and LWE-impacted regions.
The department has also referred to Vaishnaw inaugurating 100 USOF-funded towers of Jio on January 5 in Bhubaneswar. “It was assured during the event that the remaining 2,761 towers of Jio under both projects will be delivered evenly every month. However, it was disappointing to note that only five towers have been set up in January 2023 against average of 276 per month,” DoT has said in a communication to company.
DoT told Jio to ensure “at least 200 towers are commissioned every month” in Odisha, starting February.
During a recent review, it was found that in the state, out of 2,379 sites planned within the scope of aspirational projects, only three sites were commissioned even after eight months of the project being signed. Similarly, in the LWE-II (Left-wing extremism) project, against 332 sites, only 102 sites were commissioned, sources told TOI.
Jio has been asked to speed up implementation of the projects, and DoT has instructed the company’s CEO to immediately look into the matter. Questions sent to Jio remained unanswered. The projects are funded through the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF), a digital outreach programme of the government that, among others, pays for infra expansion of network in far-flung areas, aspirational districts, and LWE-impacted regions.
The department has also referred to Vaishnaw inaugurating 100 USOF-funded towers of Jio on January 5 in Bhubaneswar. “It was assured during the event that the remaining 2,761 towers of Jio under both projects will be delivered evenly every month. However, it was disappointing to note that only five towers have been set up in January 2023 against average of 276 per month,” DoT has said in a communication to company.
DoT told Jio to ensure “at least 200 towers are commissioned every month” in Odisha, starting February.
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