The Maharashtra government has reportedly approved land allocation in 930 villages for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to install mobile towers, aimed at extending internet services to rural and tribal regions across the state. This approval follows a revised proposal from BSNL, after technical challenges arose in an earlier plan involving 2,751 villages approved in April 2023. Under the revised plan, 200 square metres of land will be provided free of cost at each site, as per a cabinet decision made on November 29, 2022.
The revenue and forest department confirmed that the land will be allotted for ground-based towers and equipment hoisting to strengthen 4G coverage. The allocation spans 30 districts, with notable concentrations in Parbhani (73 villages), Nanded (70), Latur (67), Yavatmal (63), Amravati (61), Nashik (60), and Raigad (65). Gadchiroli (48) and Palghar (14) include habitations of particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).
Moreover, district collectors have been instructed to expedite approvals within 15 days and ensure basic infrastructure support. This includes electricity supply and right of way for optical fibre cables, coordinated with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company.
