UP Government launches online single window clearance portal for seamless telecom infrastructure permissions across the state
Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) organised a Telecom Infrastructure Development Workshop targeted to spread awareness among local authorities, Government bodies, Zila Parishad and Panchayats etc. The workshop highlighted the significance of telecom infrastructure for shaping ‘Digital Uttar Pradesh’. Further, UP Government during the workshop launched the Online Single Window Clearance Portal for extending seamless telecom infrastructure permissions across the state.
The workshop emphasised on the implementation of Uttar Pradesh Right of Way (RoW) guidelines dated 15thJune 2018 issued by UP Government which is more or less aligned with RoW rules, 2016 notified by Government of India in order to deploy a robust telecom infrastructure across the state to unfold the socio-economic growth of the masses through Digitalisation.
The main objective of the Online Single Window Clearance portal is to convert the manual process into online submission for procuring the fresh permission and renewal of permissions. The portal will help in saving precious time of the applicants which was previously wasted in making hard copy submissions with different departments.
The portal can be accessed at www.uprow.inwhich extends benefits such as automated processes, increased efficiency, single point interface, time bound issuance of NOC, transparency, cost effective and quick data management etc.
The workshop was organised by TAIPA, Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and was facilitated by Government of Uttar Pradesh.
The workshop was graced by the eminent presence of Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister & Minister IT & E, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Anup Chandra Pandey, IAS-Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Alok Sinha, IAS-Additional Chief Secretary (IT&E), Government of Uttar Pradesh with other senior UP Government officials.
From Central Government of India, the event witnessed presence of Shri Subodh Kumar Gupta, Director General (Telecom), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Shri Chandra Shekhar, Sr. DDG (DGT-HQ), Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Shri U K Srivastava, Principal Advisor, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The workshop also witnessed participations from LSA Heads (formerly Term cell) from UP East and UP West- DoT, telecom industry, Local authorities, Zila Parishad and Panchayat etc.
In order to develop a robust telecom infrastructure for ensuring seamless network connectivity across Uttar Pradesh, a separate wing of Department of Telecommunications (DoT), named as LSA (Formerly TERM Cells) led by LSA Heads is closely working with state Authorities for ensuring monitoring of policy implementation, right of way permissions, BharatNet Coordination and facilitating lawful interception etc.
While launching the Single Window Clearance Portal, Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister IT&E, Government of Uttar Pradesh said, “As you all know that the prosperity of any nation depends on its infrastructure development across all the states with total integrity, transparency, sensitiveness, efficiency and effectiveness which are corner stones of the polity. It is indeed my pleasure to launch such a portal which will help streamlining and speeding-up the permission process as well as help in expediting the telecom infrastructure rollout across the state. I appeal all the authorities to adopt and implement the Uttar Pradesh Right of Way rules, 2018 in their respective jurisdiction as it will help in shaping Digital Uttar Pradesh and help in realising the enormous potential of the state.”
As on December 2018, Uttar Pradesh state have more than 56 thousand mobile towers mounted with 2 lakh 34 thousand BTSs. In order to step in the future, twice the current number of telecom towers will be required in the state of Uttar Pradesh to meet the future requirements of emerging technologies such as 5G, IoT, M2M, AR, VR and AI etc.
While speaking at the workshop, Dr. Anup Chandra Pandey, Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh said, ‘The workshop has extended an excellent platform for the various district authorities to be aware of the significance of telecom infrastructure and its associated benefits that it can extend to the bottom of pyramid. Further, the workshop emphasised on the need of collaboration among various state authorities as well as down the line implementation of the state RoW rules, 2018 for touching various spectrum of lives through Digitalisation.”
At the workshop, Mr. Tilak Raj Dua, Director General, Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA)said ‘The foundation for state-of-the-art telecom infrastructure is laid by policies enabling provisioning of telecom infrastructure across the state. The UP Government has taken a forward step in this direction by issuing a State Right of Way for the State that is aligned with Government of India’s Right of Way rules 2016 and having this workshop organised for the adoption and implementation of the said rules. These cumulative actions will help in developing ‘Smart & Digital Uttar Pradesh’.”
While addressing the audience, Mr. Amit Sharma, Executive Vice President and President, Asia, ATC India said, “Telecom infrastructure development is a fundamental requirement for the data revolution and will serve to promote 5G and IOT. Provision of Digital Services to every citizen is essential in order to provide socio-economic growth to the Country particularly, to the rural population. The Uttar Pradesh Government’s decision to convene this workshop, is ratification of the role of digital infrastructure providers in supporting national priority projects such as Digital India and Smart Cities. We are delighted that the UP Government has been an early adopter of the RoW policy and has developed an ‘Online Single Window RoW Clearance’ portal which will assist the Municipal Corporations/Panchayats in the development of their telecom infrastructure. At the same time, it will usher in transparency, timeliness and ease of business for telecom infrastructure providers.”
In the last two decades, Telecommunication has emerged as a key driver of economic and social development in an increasingly knowledge intensive global scenarios. The Indian telecommunication sector has undergone a revolutionary transition in the last two decades to become the World’s second largest telecommunication market with more than 1.2 billion subscribers connected through 5 lakh 50 thousand mobile towers with more than 21 lakh BTSs. As per the government report, the mobile sector’s contribution to GDP which is presently 6.5 percent and will increase to 8.2 percent by 2020.
