)
According to Economic Survey 2012-13, which was tabled in the state Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi last week, Bihar has 4.6 crore telephone connections in 38 districts of the state of which mobile phones had a share of over 98% with private operators playing a big role.
Teledensity (number of telephone per 100 population) in urban areas of Bihar stood at 196.24 in 2012, which is more than the national average of 169.55, the survey report, quoting Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, said.
Only Kerala and Odisha were ahead of Bihar in urban teledensity.
But, the same is not reflected in rural areas where teledensity in Bihar in 2012 was 25.58 against 39.22 at the national level, the report said.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi told PTI that mobile phone has become cheaper and handy for citizens. People wish to remain connected with each other nowadays hence mobile phone has become a necessity, he added.
Modi said there has been tremendous scope for telephone expansion in Bihar which has been surging ahead towards economic prosperity.
The craze for mobile phone could be understood from the fact that in rural areas where there is crisis of electricity, people rush to kiosks to charge their handset, the Bihar Deputy CM said, adding this process is creating income also.
The NDA government under Engineer Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been giving priority to use of IT in the field of sectors catering to needs of common people.
The state government has linked Right to Public Service (RTPS) with mobile information service.
Modi said that the state government with the help of bank has facilitated information regarding payment of taxes over mobile phone. Traders paying tax get information on mobile about it, he added.
State's Information Technology minister Shahid Ali Khan told PTI that all the 38 districts of state would be developed as 'e-districts' by 2014.
Data centre is being established for storing information.
The chief minister has been giving preference to use of IT in the field of governance.
Kumar writes a blog in his own name through which people gets regular information about redressal of their grievances by the government machinery.
