By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 5, 2018: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday launched the much awaited ‘Bhubaneswar Me WiFi’ project promising here to make Capital a fully Wifi enabled city ahead of World Cup Hockey.

This facility will be extended to all municipal corporations, Patnaik announced.

“It’s a historic day for Bhubaneswar. The City of Temples will have an IT backbone comparable to the best modern cities in the world,” the CM remarked.

The move will pave the way to the Temple City turning into a global Smart City with 500 hotspots spanning the entire city, he said, adding, the move will be a game-changer for youths in realising the heights of the knowledge economy. Asking youths to utilise this world-class facility, the chief minister said there will not be any charge on data usages for citizens under this project as free data pack will be provided.

“As part of my commitment for 3Ts — Technology, Transparency and Teamwork, in the coming days we will have similar free Wifi facilities in all our corporations — Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Rourkela,” Patnaik said, adding, “Jagannath Dham Puri will also be extended this facility soon.”

Implemented by the Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited, the ‘Bhubaneswar Me WiFi’ project will initially have 100 hotspots enabled locations with 275 access points. Gradually, the hotspot locations will be increased to 518 with 1,800 access points.

The stretches to be covered in the first phase are KIIT Square to Governor House Square, Gopabandhu Square to Governor House Square, Airport to Acharya Vihar, Nalco Square to Acharya Vihar, Kalpana Square to Rasulgarh Square, Shishu Bhavan to Vani Vihar and Main points between Rasulgarh Square.

The internet speed in the city Wifi network will be 2mbps and each user will get 250mb free data a day under this facility. After exceeding the limit the user has to login and choose a payment plan for subsequent use.