Telecom connectivity for Shri Amarnathji Yatra reviewed

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, June 5: P.K. Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, took a meeting to review the preparedness for ensuring uninterrupted telecom connectivity for Yatra 2015. CEO, SASB stressed on all concerned to work in coordination for ensuring reliable telecom services in the Yatra area.
CEO urged the BSNL to ensure that all arrangements for improved and uninterrupted telecom connectivity are in place latest by June 25.
It was informed during the meeting that Pre-paid mobiles from other States do not work in J&K. Therefore, all the intending Yatris coming from outside the State should be advised to carry Post-paid mobiles. BSNL informed that their services would remain available in the entire Yatra area and it will also arrange pre-paid SIM Cards for being made available to Yatris at Baltal and Chandanwari Base Camps.
It was also informed by the BSNL that the Bandwidth on VSATs at Panjtarni, Holy Cave and Sheshnag is being augmented from the earlier 1 Mbps to 4 Mbps and at Poshpatri to 2 Mbps. Further, big sized BTS Towers will be installed at eight sites with 3G facilities in addition to the existing 2G facility at five places in the lower camps. Enhanced Bandwidth of 14 Mbps will be provided at the Base Camps.
CEO, SASB also stressed the other service providers to come forward and extend their services in the Yatra area for enhancing the telecom connectivity in true spirit of corporate social responsibility, besides promoting their commercial interests.
The meeting was attended by Jitendra Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Brigadier Manjeet Singh, Chief Signal Officer, Head Quarter 15 Corps and Col S Velmurugan, CO Victor Force, R.N. Sudhakar, Chief General Manager, D.K. Aggarwal, General Manager, M.G. Mufti, DGM and Nazir Ahmad, DGM from BSNL, B.A. Khan, Chief Engineer, Power Development Department, Srinagar, A.R. War, Director, CAPD, Kashmir and the officials of other service providers viz Aircel, Airtel, Idea, Reliance and Vodafone.