Sukma: Once identified with the Maoist insurgency, the remote village of Tekulagudem has witnessed a historic moment recently after the Bhartiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) started its 4g operations by erecting a mobile tower in the heart of the village.
Located at the inter-district borders of Bijapur and Sukma, the village and the surrounding areas were once considered a bastion for the Maoists, where security forces opened a security camp only last year.
The opening of the security camp in Tekulagudem paved way for various development works which are being carried out under the flagship Niyad Nellanar scheme which also includes the telecommunication services.
The village was notorious for Maoist presence where 22 security personnel lost their lives during an ambush planned and executed by the extremists in the year 2021. Two personnel of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were also martyred in an attack in the village last year.
Sharing the details of the BSNL 4g project in Bastar region, the officials informed that a total of 145 mobile towers will come up in interior areas out of which 70 will be erected in Sukma alone.
The development is expected to boost the online services in the area, benefiting the banking and education sector services. The solidification of communication services will also expected to help in tackling the insurgency issue.
The commencement of 4g services in the village will also help the security personnel stationed at the camp in communicating with their family members.
Sharing his views, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sukma Kiran Chouhan said that communication services are crucial for the overall development of the region and the availability of mobile tower will be vital for villagers in education, communication and development.
The BSNL project in Tekulagudem will also benefit the residents of adjoining villages such as Timarpuram, Jonguda, Boranguda and others.
Tekulagudem, Sukma district of Chhattisgarh has got its first #BSNL4G Tower.
Empowering communities with better communication.#BSNLIndia #SwadeshiNetwork #ConnectingBharat #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/cN1q2tz7Fy
— BSNL India (@BSNLCorporate) March 17, 2025
In a related development, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on March 19 announced that the state government will set up a hospital in the Puvarti village of Sukma, around 4 kilometers away from Tekalgudem. The announcement comes amidst a mobile tower is already being erected in Puvarti.
डबल इंजन सरकार के सुशासन में बस्तर अब बंदूक के डर से नहीं, विकास की रोशनी से पहचाना जाएगा।
सुकमा जिले के कुख्यात नक्सली कमांडर हिड़मा के गांव पूवर्ती में हमारी सरकार ने अस्पताल खोलने का निर्णय लिया है, जिससे ग्रामीणों को बेहतर स्वास्थ्य सुविधाएं मिलेंगी।
यह अस्पताल सिर्फ इलाज… pic.twitter.com/tXJYcq7mFe
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) March 19, 2025
Taking to X, Sai said ” Under the good governance of the double engine government, Bastar will now be recognised with the light of development and not by the fear of guns”.
Notably a significant decline in insurgency has been witnessed in the state of Chhattisgarh in terms of violence and resultant deaths caused by the Maoist-insurgency in recent years.
Earlier in February this year the Union government informed that around Rs 830 crores has been released for Chhattisgarh under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme during the last five years.
It further noted that around 4046 km roads have already been constructed in the violence hit areas while a total of 1333 mobile towers were commissioned in the state to improve telecom connectivity.
It must be noted the spread of Maoist-insurgency has reduced from 90 districts in April 2018 to 38 districts in April 2024.
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