Fresh Survey Ordered for Mobile Network Expansion in Remote and Hilly Konkan Regions: IT Minister Ashish Shelar

Mumbai, May 2026 : Maharashtra Minister for Electronics, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Ashish Shelar has directed that a fresh, taluka-wise survey be conducted to address mobile network issues in the remote and hilly areas of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. The survey is to be carried out with the joint participation of district collectors, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) officials, and public representatives, followed by the preparation of an action plan based on its findings.

The minister issued these instructions during a review meeting held to assess mobile network and 4G connectivity issues in the two Konkan districts. The meeting was attended by MLA Shekhar Nikam (Chiplun), MahaIT Director Bhuvaneshwari S., Managing Director Sanjay Katkar, Under Secretary Yogesh Gosavi, as well as concerned district collectors and BSNL officials who joined via video conferencing, including Amit Patil.

During the meeting, MLA Shekhar Nikam raised concerns about the lack of mobile connectivity in several villages, including Devrukh, stating that many areas still do not have any network coverage at all. He also highlighted that the problem is particularly severe in the hilly terrain, where connectivity remains inconsistent or completely absent.

In response, Minister Shelar proposed the concept of a “Connectivity Darbar” at the taluka level, where BSNL officials, local MLAs, gram panchayat representatives, and citizens would jointly identify and document connectivity gaps on the ground.

Officials presented district-wise data during the meeting. In Sindhudurg district, out of 746 villages, 704 have mobile coverage and 677 villages are equipped with 4G services. In Ratnagiri district, out of 1,538 villages, 1,472 have mobile coverage, while 1,461 villages have 4G connectivity. Officials also informed that several uncovered villages have been included under BSNL’s 4G saturation project.

Minister Shelar directed that a comprehensive, taluka-wise survey should be carried out across both districts to determine which villages need to be included in the saturation programme, where new mobile towers are required, and the timeline for completion of such infrastructure projects. He emphasised the need for a detailed roadmap to ensure seamless connectivity across all regions.

BSNL Kolhapur region head Patil assured full cooperation for the initiative. The minister also instructed that a separate high-level meeting be held with district collectors and senior officials to finalise the action plan for improving network connectivity in the region.

The initiative is expected to significantly improve digital connectivity in Konkan’s remote and hilly areas, ensuring better access to communication services for rural communities.