NOV 29:Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, and Information Technology, Shri Satish Sharma, chaired an important review meeting with the Deputy Director General of the National Broadband Mission (NBM) to evaluate the progress of digital infrastructure across Jammu & Kashmir. The session focused on assessing ongoing projects, identifying bottlenecks, and laying out a coordinated strategy to accelerate broadband penetration throughout the Union Territory.
During the meeting, Shri Sharma highlighted that digital inclusion is now fundamental to economic growth, social empowerment, and governance reforms. He stressed the pressing need to ensure last-mile connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh’s border-touching areas. According to him, the availability of reliable high-speed internet is essential not only for daily communication but also for digital services such as e-governance, online education, telemedicine, digital payments, and skill-development platforms.
A major point of focus was the timely clearance and simplification of Right of Way (RoW) permissions—one of the key challenges delaying broadband rollout in rural and hilly terrains. The Minister directed officials to streamline approval processes, enhance inter-departmental coordination, and resolve procedural delays that hinder infrastructure deployment. He emphasised that faster RoW clearances would enable telecom operators and infrastructure providers to expand optical fiber networks and mobile connectivity without unnecessary interruptions.
Shri Sharma also urged all concerned departments and agencies to work in partnership to meet the targets of the National Broadband Mission. He called for a proactive approach, regular monitoring, and data-driven decision-making to ensure that digital services reach every household across the UT.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to universal digital access, the Minister underlined that strengthening broadband infrastructure is central to empowering citizens, boosting innovation, and bridging the digital divide. He expressed confidence that coordinated efforts and timely execution would lead Jammu & Kashmir toward a more connected and digitally empowered future.
