NAGPUR: If the preliminary talks between Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) held on Saturday are any indication, there are strong chances of the city going fully Wi-Fi by the year end. Facilitated by city MP and Union minister for roads and transport Nitin Gadkari, a meeting of senior BSNL officials and the NMC was held on the subject.

A presentation was made by the BSNL showing the fast pace with which the telecom company is working in the city as part of the Digital India plan. Nagpur area of the BSNL is far ahead in the country. According to mayor Pravin Datke, who was present at the meeting, a final proposal from the BSNL is expected after which the NMC, BSNL and a third party may sign an agreement.

The NMC has already permitted cabling operations of Reliance Jio Infocomm. As part of that, NMC can allow BSNL to use the same ducts in which there is spare capacity available for optical fibres, said Datke. “Once we receive the proposal, we can finalize the deal,” said the mayor.

He said if BSNL seeks waiver of ducting charges, then the NMC may seek a revenue sharing with the telecom company. Additionally, 778 gram panchayats in the district will also get Internet connectivity.

Gadkari held daylong marathon meetings on different city-related matters on Saturday. Developments related to Mihan, metro rail project, Gosikhurd irrigation dam delay and Gadchiroli situation were also discussed at different meetings with officials and people concerned. MLAs and officials of the ZP and state government departments concerned were present.

In an important decision on Gosikhurd, it has been decided to set up a tribunal headed by a retired collector-level officer to expedite intra-family disputes over claims on the compensation amount. Gadkari said the previous government in the state had offered Rs1200 cr rehabilitation package. But, implementing that has become difficult as the project, that is dragging on for over two years, has seen families fragmenting and staking claim on compensation amounts. With litigations piling up, things are not moving. As a way out now, a tribunal could be set up for speedy out-of-court settlements between family members.

On metro rail project, the work for first phase is beginning on Sunday. Gadkari said on the sidelines of the launch of work, a separate meeting will be held to finalize phase II and III. He said efforts would be made to complete phase I in less than three years connecting north-south and east-west parts of the city. Some design changes and building of a new railway bridge at Narendra Nagar in chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ constituency were being considered, said Gadkari.

Besides this, Gadkari has promised a new national highway passing through Gadchiroli connecting Sironcha with Etapalli. This, he said, will speed up development of the district.

On Mihan, he expressed satisfaction with the progress and recent arrival of the first Boeing plane for tests at the MRO. He said resettlement of remaining displaced villagers will now be expedited.

Gadkari has also offered Rs50 lakh from his MP area development fund for experimenting a new road laying technology using iron slag. This road will be laid in one of the unauthorized layouts being regularized in the city, he said. Iron slag in plenty is available at steel plants and offered for free. An Indian engineer has developed its use for road building in Australia. In India, it has been used in Jamshedpur, he said.

Source: ETTelecom