by NewsGram Staff

Prime Minister Narender Modi directed the telecom ministry to ensure timely implementation of the broadband project, NOFN (National Optical Fibre Network). The progress of the Rs. 30,000 crore project is likely to be reviewed in first week of March 2015.

NOFN is part of the Digital India programme, a Government of India initiative aimed at integrating various government departments and the people of India. The project would reduce a lot of paperwork as citizens would be able to make requests for various services electronically. NOFN is the initial part of creating an ambitious digital infrastructure connecting rural areas with high speed Internet. Delivery of digital services as well as digital literacy are later part of the whole project. At a cost-expenditure of Rs. 1.13 crore, the project is expected to be completed by 2019. An Apex Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth had recently took note of the progress of Digital India.

National Optical Fibre Network alone would be able to connect 2.5 lakh gram panchayats by December 2016. Modi insisted the officials to meet the deadline as he urged them to monitor the the progress closely. He also told the Department of Telecommunications to oversee any bottleneck and ensure that the project does not encounter any delay.

It is evident that India needs a robust digital network across the overlooked rural areas to facilitate smooth government processes and quick resolution of issues. The infrastructure could easily become a national platform for the rural sectors to voice their concerns in an effective way to the highest of authorities.

Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is already undertaking fortnightly meetings to ensure an un-delayed completion of the project.