Kumar Bahukhandi
IN Short
*Decades-long Wait Ends: Mobile Network Reaches Kondapalli for the First Time, Village Erupts in Celebration
*Niyad Nella Naar Scheme Transforms Reality: Life in Kondapalli Becomes Easier
Raipur: While basic amenities like telecommunications, electricity and roads are the foundation of daily life in most parts of the country, some remote forested regions of the Bastar division had never seen these facilities for decades. One such area is Kondapalli village in Bijapur district, where an unprecedented celebratory atmosphere was witnessed as the village got mobile network coverage for the first time.
Kondapalli, located in a dense forest zone on the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border, has long lived without access to roads, electricity and drinking water. In such circumstances, the installation of a mobile tower is not merely a technological step forward for the local community, but a symbol of connecting with the outside world.
The moment the tower’s activation was announced, a wave of excitement swept through the villagers. Women, men and children all marched in a rally to the tower site. Traditional rituals were performed to consecrate the tower. To the beat of the ‘mandar’ drum, people danced with emotion. The scene was nothing short of a festival.
People from neighbouring villages also joined the celebrations. Villagers said the new service was not just a technological facility, but their “first real connection with the outside world.” Security personnel also joined in the celebrations and distributed sweets.
Mobile network connectivity will now serve as a gateway for villagers to access banking, Aadhaar, ration, health schemes, pensions and educational services — facilities that had long been out of reach. For many, this day marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
Under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s leadership, the Niyad Nella Naar scheme aims to deliver basic services to sensitive regions, build trust and integrate people into the mainstream. The scheme is expediting the delivery of roads, electricity, education, health, drinking water, banking, communication and administrative services.
The scheme has a wide scope — covering 403 villages around 69 new camps, where 18 community services from 9 departments and 25 individual-centric schemes from 11 departments are being delivered, ensuring no villager is deprived of basic amenities.
Communication infrastructure has emerged as the most impactful component of this effort. Over the past two years, 728 new towers have been installed in the region — including 116 under the LWE programme, 115 in aspirational districts, and 467 towers as 4G installations. Additionally, 449 towers have been upgraded from 2G to 4G.
Kondapalli has witnessed rapid transformation through the Niyad Nalla Naar scheme. Since the camp was established in December 2024, the administration has been able to reach the village regularly for the first time. The long-defunct road is being reconstructed by the Border Roads Organisation, and work on a 50-km stretch is currently in progress.
Electricity reached the village for the first time just two months ago. Since then, children’s studies, small businesses and daily life have seen remarkable positive changes. The administration is conducting saturation camps to ensure every family receives the benefits of all schemes.
With the arrival of mobile network services in Kondapalli, it is now evident that the light of development is finally reaching those regions that had waited for years. This new dawn of communication has given villagers confidence that their hamlet too will progress, connected with modern facilities like the rest of the state.
The arrival of mobile connectivity in Kondapalli is not just about erecting a tower — it represents the rising aspirations of people who had long lived cut off from the world. “Our government is committed to ensuring that every village and every family in Bastar becomes part of the development mainstream, gains access to digital services and sees new avenues of opportunity open before them. This is not merely the beginning of communication, but the dawn of an era of trust, transformation and new possibilities.” — Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
