DHARAMSHALA, March 30: To facilitate tourists and devotees visiting the holy Mahabodhi Temple, the largest state-run telecom, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) plans to turn the temple premises into a Wi-Fi enabled zone. The telecom service provider has already set up equipment around the temple and had a test run last week.
This project will make the monument the first heritage center in the state to provide such facility and according to sources, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications & Information Technology, will inaugurate the service soon.
“It will be an additional facility and for the convenience of all the domestic and foreign visitors by making Internet easily accessible for all,” Nangzey Dorjee, Secretary of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) told Phayul.
Regarding security, he assured that general public is not allowed to carry their phones inside the Temple compound except officials and VIPs. However, he also added that since it is still in its early stage it would be hard to gauge other security concerns.
The public private partnership venture led by BSNL will provide 15 minutes of free Wi-Fi access and beyond that customers will have to pay according to usage. Presently there are only three access points around the premises and the provider plans to increase the number in future.
Currently, the signal strength is only within 100-meter radius around the temple area. Therefore, the signal would not cover the Kalachakra ground. When asked if the range would be increased by the next Kalachakra puja, Nangzey replied that it would be up to the providers.
