150 mobile towers to be set up in Jammu and Kashmir for stronger network: Kruparani Killi

One hundred and fifty new mobile phone towers would soon be set up in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the state's communication network, a Central minister said today.

"As many as 150 mobile towers would be installed to strengthen (JK's) mobile network," Union Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology, Kruparani Killi told reporters.

She was responding to a demand raised by a Congress MP at the inauguration of the office of the chief postmaster general (CPMG) at Railhead complex here.

"I will talk to BSNL (Officials in the state) and discuss which uncovered areas are to be taken up under this plan," she added.

The Union minister said that her department would spend Rs. 3,000 crore on the expansion of mobile services in the country with 2,000 new mobile towers to be set up as part of the plan, mostly in uncovered areas.

During his speech at the event, Congress MP Lal Singh had expressed regret that several areas in the state were yet to be covered by BSNL, leaving people cut off from mobile communication.

Replying to another question about the commencement of SMS service of pre-paid mobile connections, Union Minister said it has been banned as per the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs.