Staff Reporter 

NEW DELHI, Feb 11: Raising concern over the  lack of mobile and internet connectivity in the remote border region of Vijaynagar in Changlang district, Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao on Wednesday strongly pressed the Centre to take urgent action during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha.
Gao informed the House that he recently undertook a difficult road journey to reach Vijaynagar—part of his parliamentary constituency—where residents apprised him of the near-total absence of mobile network in this digital era.
“Despite the presence of BSNL towers, connectivity is almost nil. People are cut off from the rest of the country,” Gao stated, expressing serious concern to the Ministry of Communications and urging immediate intervention to restore reliable telecommunication services.
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, the MP emphasized that the connectivity crisis is not merely an inconvenience but a matter of national security. Indian Army and paramilitary forces deployed along the India-Myanmar border are facing severe communication challenges due to poor network coverage.
The lack of a reliable network has also crippled essential services for civilians. Residents are unable to access digital banking, online education, telemedicine, or coordinate emergency healthcare services—deepening the region’s isolation and developmental gap.
Responding to the concerns raised, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia assured the Lok Sabha that the Centre is fully committed to resolving the long-standing mobile and internet connectivity crisis in Vijaynagar.
The Minister acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and stated that the government is exploring alternative technical solutions to overcome the existing challenges, with a nationwide target of achieving full 4G coverage by June 2026.
Scindia also explained that the delay in laying Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) is largely due to geographical and environmental constraints. A significant portion of the region falls under the Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, making infrastructure expansion subject to stringent environmental regulations.
Certain stretches requiring clearance are currently under consideration before the Supreme Court, further slowing progress. However, the Minister assured that efforts are underway to bypass these hurdles while ensuring compliance with environmental safeguards. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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