Union Cabinet has approved hiving off mobile tower assets of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) into a separate company. This approval authorizes BSNL to monetize its telecom tower infrastructure with the formation of a separate subsidiary company. There are around 4.42 lakh mobile towers in the country out of which more than 66 thousand are of BSNL. <br/> '<br/>Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Communication Minister Manoj Sinha said, an independent tower company with a focused approach will lead to higher revenue for the new company and enhance capacity.<br/> '<br/>Mr Sinha said that Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has also approved the 161 kilometer long Barabanki-Akbarpur doubling project at a completion cost of over 1,310c crore rupees. The project and is likely to be completed by 2021-22. Mr Sinha said, the project will cover the districts of Barabanki and Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh and will benefit the entire route from Lucknow to Varanasi via Faizabad.<br/> <br/>In another decision, the Cabinet approved a MoU between ndia and Armenia on cooperation in the field of disaster management. The Cabinet also gave its approval for signing of a MoU between India and Morocco on cooperation in the field of health. <br/><br/>Besides, the Cabinet was apprised of a MoU between Central Silk Board, India and National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Japan for collaborative research in the field of silkworm and silk industries. It was signed last year.

Union Cabinet has approved hiving off mobile tower assets of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) into a separate company. This approval authorizes BSNL to monetize its telecom tower infrastructure with the formation of a separate subsidiary company. There are around 4.42 lakh mobile towers in the country out of which more than 66 thousand are of BSNL. <br/><br/>An independent, tower company with a focused approach will lead to higher revenue for the new company.<br/>In another decision, the Cabinet approved a MoU between India and Armenia on cooperation in the field of disaster management. The Cabinet also gave its approval for signing of a MoU between India and Morocco on cooperation in the field of health. <br/><br/>Besides, the Cabinet was apprised of a MoU between Central Silk Board, India and National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Japan for collaborative research in the field of silkworm and silk industries. It was signed last year.