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Srinagar: Four years after being formally launched by the former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, the much hyped hi tech Gulmarg Wi-Fi project continues to be in doldrums as the government failed to make it operational completely.
The Wi-Fi project was set up in 2011 to keep Gulmarg connected not only with rest of the world but to ensure tourists with services like Gondola tickets, air tickets and to avail other online benefits on the spot.
It was also established that time interventions are made to meet natural calamities like avalanches and blockades.
Initially the project was targeting to provide internet services to the tourist bowl in areas with poor connectivity like Gulmarg, Kongdoori and Apharwat coving an area of five square kilometers. "The hi- tech project was first of its kind in state to attract foreign tourists. The devices used have been designed with lightening protection which can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius and heavy snow-storms," said an official from Gulmarg Development Authority(GDA) ," adding, the Wi-Fi network was regarded as one of the highest Wi-Fi zones in the world at an altitude of 4120 metres above sea level.
Now when the government had already spent lakhs of rupees on the projects to procure costly equipments including power backing system to ensure the functioning of the project even in minus 40 degrees, the project is not benefitting the tourists visiting from across the world. "The project was handed over to Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation. Right now the project is in its initial stage and will take some time. So far the hoteliers have using their own internet system," said Chief Executive Officer GDA, Nazir Ahmad Mir .
"The Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) has provided Rs 19 lakh while the Cable Car Corporation invested an amount of Rs 13 lakh for WIFI and the project has been implemented through Kashmir University," he said.
It is worth to mention that the project was conceived, designed and implemented by the network design team from Directorate of Information Technology and Support System (IT & SS), University of Kashmir with bandwidth being provided by Software Technology Park of India (STPI).
Although, the Directorate of IT&SS KU had claimed that the project was completed in a record time of 4 months, but in places like Kangdoori, Apharwat tourists face poor connectivity in terms of internet and other facilities. "The Gulmarg being one of the famous destination should have such facilities. It should at par with Switzerland where visitors enjoy different facilities even in heavy snowfall," said a group of tourists who had visited here from West Bengal.
Officials from the Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation said the service was stopped because the authority alone could bear the huge monthly bills. "We are using V-sat services and the billing per month would touch lakhs of rupees. The department could bear the huge amount due to which the service was stopped," Executive Engineer Mechanical wing Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation said
Source : http://www.kashmirmonitor. in/news-wi-fi-gulmarg-still-a-distant-dream-78706.aspx
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Wi-Fi Gulmarg still a distant dream
Omar’s pet project fails to take off
Srinagar: Four years after being formally launched by the former chief minister, Omar Abdullah, the much hyped hi tech Gulmarg Wi-Fi project continues to be in doldrums as the government failed to make it operational completely.
The Wi-Fi project was set up in 2011 to keep Gulmarg connected not only with rest of the world but to ensure tourists with services like Gondola tickets, air tickets and to avail other online benefits on the spot.
It was also established that time interventions are made to meet natural calamities like avalanches and blockades.
Initially the project was targeting to provide internet services to the tourist bowl in areas with poor connectivity like Gulmarg, Kongdoori and Apharwat coving an area of five square kilometers. "The hi- tech project was first of its kind in state to attract foreign tourists. The devices used have been designed with lightening protection which can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius and heavy snow-storms," said an official from Gulmarg Development Authority(GDA) ," adding, the Wi-Fi network was regarded as one of the highest Wi-Fi zones in the world at an altitude of 4120 metres above sea level.
Now when the government had already spent lakhs of rupees on the projects to procure costly equipments including power backing system to ensure the functioning of the project even in minus 40 degrees, the project is not benefitting the tourists visiting from across the world. "The project was handed over to Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation. Right now the project is in its initial stage and will take some time. So far the hoteliers have using their own internet system," said Chief Executive Officer GDA, Nazir Ahmad Mir .
"The Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) has provided Rs 19 lakh while the Cable Car Corporation invested an amount of Rs 13 lakh for WIFI and the project has been implemented through Kashmir University," he said.
It is worth to mention that the project was conceived, designed and implemented by the network design team from Directorate of Information Technology and Support System (IT & SS), University of Kashmir with bandwidth being provided by Software Technology Park of India (STPI).
Although, the Directorate of IT&SS KU had claimed that the project was completed in a record time of 4 months, but in places like Kangdoori, Apharwat tourists face poor connectivity in terms of internet and other facilities. "The Gulmarg being one of the famous destination should have such facilities. It should at par with Switzerland where visitors enjoy different facilities even in heavy snowfall," said a group of tourists who had visited here from West Bengal.
Officials from the Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation said the service was stopped because the authority alone could bear the huge monthly bills. "We are using V-sat services and the billing per month would touch lakhs of rupees. The department could bear the huge amount due to which the service was stopped," Executive Engineer Mechanical wing Gulmarg Cable Car Corporation said
Source : http://www.kashmirmonitor. in/news-wi-fi-gulmarg-still-a-distant-dream-78706.aspx
This Blog helps you to have a better understanding of STPI scheme, export of IT & software and software services including Information Technology (IT) enabled services/ Bio- IT And other export promotion scheme of Government of India.
You are requested to join STPI Blog for the latest updates, news, RBI guidelines for exporters, FEMA Regulations and other related information.
Become Follower of Our Blog - http://stpi-scheme.blogspot.com/
Join Facebook Group of STPI -
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