| Under the public-private-partnership model, one lakh common service centres would provide access to frequently sought information such as regarding birth certificates. |
| "These would be run by individuals on a profit basis on the model of STD booths," Maran said. |
| The common service centres would be ready by end of 2007, Maran added. Apart from 26 MMPs, the plan, which has eight support components, will be implemented at the level of the central, state and local governments. |
| The standards for the projects will be laid down by the National Informatics Centre. By 2007, land records, income tax and excise departments all over the country would be computerised, senior officials said. |
| Meanwhile, a day after telecom regulator Trai started the process of allotting the 3G mobile spectrum, Maran favoured right-pricing of the scarce resource. |
| "The government has to make some money out of it (3G spectrum)... (and) make it very competitive and does not want people to sit over spectrum," Maran told reporters after the GSM Association's meet here. The minister, however, did not touch upon how 3G should be priced, leaving the matter to Trai. |
| "The government will take a decision after Trai comes out with its recommendations," he said. |
| Maran said India needed to learn from models being practiced in various countries. "Trai has given its consultation paper and now the industry will react to it," he said. |
| He said that the finance ministry was also keen that the government got revenues from 3G services. |
| Maran said the government would allow foreign players to enter the 3G market. However, Sunil Mittal, head of Bharti, said, "There is no justification on pricing the 3G spectrum." |
| "Contrary to the perception, spectrum is already priced... 10 per cent of revenues, 12 per cent of service tax, apart from other levies, are already there," he said. |
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