Govt approves increase in budget for defence NFS project by Rs 113.3 bn

The government on Wednesday approved increasing the budget for Network For Spectrum (NFS) project by Rs 113.3 billion.

The total budget for the project to lay an alternate communications network for defence services has now gone up to Rs 246.64 billion.

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for enhancement of budget by Rs 113.30 billion for NFS project for laying of alternate communication network for Defence Services for release of spectrum over and above Rs 133.34 billion already approved by Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure in July, 2012," an official statement today said.

Being implemented by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), the project will be completed in 24 months, it added.

It will boost the communication capabilities of defence forces in a major way leading to enhanced national operational preparedness, the statement said.

Besides, it will have forward linkages to other related industries such as telecom equipment manufacturing and other telecom related services, it added.