Aircel plans to invest Rs 125 cr in J & K

Aircel, a fast-growing telecom major in the country with more than 3.6 million customers, will invest in Jammu and Kashmir Rs 125 crore, promising jobs.

The company, a market leader in southern states and the north-east, as part of its expansion programme in Jammu and Kashmir, has launched its service in the Kashmir valley. It includes the two border districts of Baramulla and Kupwara of north Kashmir.

It started operations in Jammu and Kashmir hardly a year ago, from Jammu and Katra MataVaishnodevi, where at least 7 million pilgrims visit the shrine every year.

Aircel Chief Executive Officer (North and East Zone) Rohit Chandra announced the plans and gave details of the Rs 125-crore investment with the promise of employment for the local youth and also to reach people in remote and rural areas.

The CEO said the company was investing in the circle to build a world-class, 100 per cent EDGE capable (3G technology) GSM network infrastructure. He added, "The network being rolled out with two MSCs, four BSCs and 300 BTSs, will cover more than 100 towns in the state."

It has already covered 1,500 km, including the Pathankot-Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, besides the Jhelum Valley road connecting Srinagar and Muzaffarabad up to Uri in Baramulla.

"We are aware of how militancy has affected employment. The company has decided to recruit maximum people from J&K. At present we have nearly 90 per cent manpower from this state while hardly 10 per cent from outside," Chandra added.

In response to a question, Chandra said Aircel was a leading mobile phone service provider in the north-east and Tamil Nadu, and was planning to launch operations in Himachal Pradesh, UP (East), and Bihar next month.

"It is going to start operations in UP (West), Kolkata and Madhya Pradesh early next year. West Bengal will be covered in a phased manner," he said.