Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri

Moodbidri, Dec 2: Citizens of Padumarnadu village panchayat and surrounding areas, who have long struggled with mobile network issues due to the absence of BSNL tower facilities, now have cause to celebrate.

Following persistent advocacy by local representatives and sustained campaigning by BSNL users, a new 135-foot solar-powered BSNL tower has been installed near Amanottu at the village centre. All technical connections were completed last Friday, bringing visible relief to the local BSNL subscribers.

Over the years, issues such as roads, streetlights, and water supply in Padumarnadu had frequently made headlines in local newspapers like Udayavani, and reports on November 19 also highlighted the difficulties faced by BSNL users.

While some progress has been made in addressing roads, water, and lighting, the long-standing mobile connectivity problem has now been resolved.

Under the "Make in India" initiative, solar panels manufactured by BSNL itself have been installed. The tower is designed to operate reliably even if there is no sunlight for at least three days. While earlier estimates suggested coverage of 1–1.5 km, reports indicate that mobile signals now reach up to 3 km, a major boost for the community.

During a free SIM distribution drive at Amanottu on Nov 15, around 230 people received SIM cards with one month of talk time. Many residents already had BSNL SIMs, and the corporation plans another free SIM distribution camp on Dec 7, offering more locals access to BSNL connectivity.

Some residents who had previously switched to other operators due to poor service are reportedly returning to BSNL. The improved connectivity has been warmly welcomed, with former panchayat member Ramesh Shetty and social worker Shivananda Namaj expressing their happiness over the tower’s installation and enhanced network performance.