Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 5: The remotest Northern area of Kashmir valley, Tangdar appeared on the mobile telephone network of the country when the BSNL and Airtel launched the service in this area promised to people by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah during his last visit to Tangdar.
The Chief Minister had taken up the issue with the concerned Union Ministry underlining the need for mobile telephone service to the people living in this remotest area remaining cut-off from the rest of the country during winter months.
The efforts of Omar Abdullah succeeded when the two major companies BSNL and Airtel accepted the challenge and made it possible for the people of Tangdar to avail the mobile telephone facility and be connected to the world 24×7 throughout the year.
Soon hearing the announcement of Tangdar getting mobile telephone service after completing the test running by the two companies for some days, the people rejoiced with happiness expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for keeping his promise and opening up the area to the world through the cell phone network. They said that this initiative of the Chief Minister is historic and the dream in this regard has come true.
The mobile telephone service thus launched will facilitate 34 villages of the area with the population of over 22920 souls as per 2011 census. The mobile coverage will be for Tangdar, Bagibela, Kandi, Dildar, Khurpora, Gumal, Bankhora, Bala, Pik, Derinar, Barwan and Hajinar.
BSNL is already providing landline service in Tangdar through satellite link. It has provided village public telephones to 33 revenue villages in Tangdar-Karnah area.