India’s Telecoms Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 5,600 crore for telecom services in Odisha and that 5G services will be launched in the eastern State before the Republic Day (January 26) celebrations next year.

Vaishnaw also made an apparent reference to the State’s ruling BJD. “No one can now claim that the Centre is ignoring Odisha’s telecom sector,” he said.

“The Modi government has approved a total of (Rs.) 5,600 crore for telecom services in Odisha, and 5G services will be available in the state before the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2023,” he said.

Vaishnaw stated that a survey was recently conducted in all villages in Odisha where mobile towers are not available, PTI reported from New Delhi.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed officials to ensure that high-quality 4G and 5G services are available in all villages,” the minister said.