Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Accelerates 4G Saturation and BharatNet Rollout to Bridge J&K Digital Divide

JAMMU, Jan 29, 2026 — In a major push to transform the digital landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired the 10th State Broadband Committee (SBC) meeting, calling for the rapid implementation of high-speed connectivity across the Union Territory. Reviewing the 4G Saturation Project, the Chief Secretary noted that work orders have been issued for 775 mobile tower sites aimed at connecting remote and border villages under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

With BSNL as the lead agency, Atal Dulloo set a strict deadline of March 31, 2026, for the completion of 269 priority sites, ensuring that land allotment and power supply issues are fast-tracked. The meeting also highlighted the progress of the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP), which aims to provide reliable optical fiber connectivity to all Gram Panchayats with 98% uptime, and the Samriddh Gram Panchayat Pilot Project, targeting over 2,230 schools and 1,130 health centers.

To protect this growing infrastructure, the Chief Secretary mandated strict usage of the Call Before You Dig (CBuD) platform and urged district administrations to resolve local bottlenecks through regular telecom committee meetings. By prioritizing 5G readiness and border village saturation, the government aims to leverage digital connectivity as a cornerstone for improved governance, healthcare, and economic growth in J&K’s most inaccessible regions.