Jamshedpur, Jan. 1: With a view to bring the national highway 33 within its mobile network, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Jamshedpur circle has decided to set up five powerful transmission towers between Ghatshila and Chandil.

The towers are expected to cover the highway from Bahragora to Ranchi. According to a survey, the highway coverage could act as a strong weapon in the mobile phone race.

Sources said telecom authorities have engaged agencies to erect the 45-metre long transmission towers at Kokpara and Mahulia in Ghatshila as well as Galudih, Pardih and Chowka in Chandil. The work will be completed by April this year.

Sources added that BSNL is also trying to improve its mobile services in Jamshedpur and Ranchi by bringing the Main Switch Centre (MSC) from Patna to the capital.

“By the time the tower constructions are over along the national highway, BSNL will have shifted the MSC to Ranchi,'' sources added.

Divisional engineer, telecom (DET) (internal), Vijay Kumar told The Telegraph that the installation of the towers along the highway is part of a plan to cover all important national highways and long-distance trains under its mobile network. The DET said beside important national highways, BSNL has planned to extend the mobile service to important state highways and is also likely to cover Potka-Jadugora-Ghatshila road linking to the NH 33.

Naxalite threat: Extremists active in the Hazaribagh district are perturbed over the changed role of the police after the new police superintendent, Neeraj Sinha took charge. Sources said the extremists have served ultimatums to different police stations not to put hurdles in their path.

Police officials met the Hazaribagh SP in this regard.The SP has sent wireless messages to 11 police stations. “It has been learnt that a group of 35 armed MCC activists visited Lotho under Churchu district in Hazaribagh.