Chamling demands better connectivity, dedicated telecom circle

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today asked for better road infrastructure, an airport and dedicated telecom circle for the northeastern state.

Mr Chamling was addressing the 54th meeting of the National Development Council here.

He suggested that the Border Road Organisation (BRO) be given an exclusive and dedicated office at Sikkim which in turn should employ modern technologies and qualified professionals for road designing and construction.

He said the Airport Authority of India (AAI) must be given a specific time to carry out the airport construction with penalty clauses on delays.

Apart from this Sikkim should be given its own and dedicated telecom circle as the State is tremendously lag behind in basic facility like the bandwidth which has badly affected even the educational institutions, he demanded.

The Chief Minster stressed the need for a fresh look at the policy guidelines for taking up of rural network projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). ''The existing bench mark for providing connectivity to a habitation from 500 population must be revised to at least 250 to negotiate and match with the needs of the hilly terrains,'' he said.

UNI