2200 mobile towers to dot red corridor

Kicking off the plan to install a web of mobile towers across the Maoist-affected districts, the Communications ministry has circulated a cabinet note for an Rs 3,000 crore project to set up 2,200 mobile towers in these districts. Aloke Tikku reports.

Kicking off the plan to install a web of mobile towers across the Maoist-affected districts, the Communications ministry has circulated a cabinet note for an Rs 3,000 crore project to set up 2,200 mobile towers in these districts.

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The move aims to provide secured wireless communications lines between security units.

A government source said building the mobile towers was only half the challenge, the other and more important was ensuring that the towers in inaccessible locations were in working condition.

"Only half of the total project cost will be incurred in setting up the towers. It will cost as much to maintain the towers over a five year period," the official said.

The lack of secure communication had been pinching the security forces that had moved into what is often referred to as the "Red Corridor" three years ago under the home ministry coordinated operations in end-2009. The project will be funded through the Universal Service Obligation fund under the telecom department.

The BSNL, which wanted to be given the order rather than bid in a tendering process, had earlier quoted more than Rs 5,500 crore, had reworked the costing after opposition from the finance ministry.