Rayagada: Lack of road connectivity has emerged as a major hurdle in installing mobile towers in several remote villages of Odisha’s Rayagada district, leaving proposed telecom infrastructure unable to become operational.

According to reports, as many as 16 proposed mobile tower sites in Rayagada district are facing delays because there are no proper roads to transport construction materials and install Base Transceiver Stations (BTS). The issue came to light after the Project Implementing Agency (PIA) submitted a report to the Centre.

The mobile towers are being planned under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) scheme of the Union Government. However, the absence of motorable roads to several identified sites has made it difficult to transport equipment and complete the installations.

The problem has also been reported from Muniguda block, which has been identified as an Aspirational Block by NITI Aayog. The lack of road connectivity in some villages there has prevented the installation of proposed mobile towers.

Following the PIA report, Odisha Electronics and Information Technology Department Special Secretary Pradeep Kumar Raut wrote to the Rayagada Collector, seeking details of the road connectivity status at the affected sites and time-bound action to complete road construction wherever feasible.

The PIA had informed the Union Ministry of Communications that the lack of even basic access roads was obstructing the transportation of equipment required for mobile tower construction and BTS installation, resulting in delays to the projects. Subsequently, Director General Telecom (DGT) Anand Khare wrote to the Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg last month, drawing attention to the issue.

Among the blocks in Rayagada district, Kashipur has the highest number of villages where proposed DBN mobile towers are affected by the absence of roads. The affected villages in Kashipur include Deranja, Kharikana, Odajal, Lekhapai, Malipadar, Perag, Tikardhuliguda, Manditunesa, Kanchamunhi and Semer.

In Muniguda block, the affected villages are Dhamanpanga and Sanakandulpada. Similar problems have been reported from Kondabaligaon in Bissamcuttack block, Gunujuguda in Gudari block, Koleti in Kalyansinghpur block and Tuduleleri in Rayagada block.

Union Telecom Secretary Amit Agrawal has sought an immediate status report on road connectivity to the identified sites. The authorities have been asked to provide details of locations where roads can be constructed and to ensure that connectivity is established within a specified timeframe.

The authorities have also been directed to identify sites where road construction is not feasible. At such locations, the proposed mobile tower projects will be kept on hold until access is established. Tower construction can be taken up once road connectivity to the sites is ensured.

71 Odisha villages await mobile towers due to poor road access

The road connectivity problem is not confined to Rayagada. Under the Digital Bharat Nidhi initiative, proposed mobile towers in 71 villages across Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha and Kendujhar districts have reportedly been affected because of the absence of roads.

The concerned district Collectors have been asked to submit reports on the status of road connectivity and the feasibility of providing access to the proposed tower sites.

The development highlights the infrastructure challenges involved in extending digital connectivity to remote and underserved areas, where the absence of basic road infrastructure is now directly affecting the rollout of mobile communication services.