Singh said under the Comprehensive Telecom Development

Plan, Department of Telecom envisages providing mobile coverage to 8,621 identified uncovered villages by installation of about 6,673 mobile towers, installation of 321 mobile tower sites along National Highways and strengthening of transmission network in the region.

The DoNER minister said the Ministry of Power is implementing Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission and Distribution Systems in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim at a total estimated cost of Rs 4,754.42 crore with the completion schedule of 48 months - by December, 2018.

The Cabinet has accorded investment approval to North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) for six states (viz Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland for strengthening of the intra-state transmission and distribution system (33 kv and above) at a total cost of Rs 5,111.33 crore with the completion schedule of 48 months - by December, 2018.

In addition, he said, the DoNER ministry provides funds to state governments to bridge infrastructural gaps in the Northeast. Under NLCPR scheme, the ministry has sanctioned 169 projects at an approved cost of Rs 2,791.44 crore and North Eastern Council has sanctioned 41 projects at an approved cost of Rs 500.58 crore, during the last three years and the current year.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)