Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has worked out an elaborate plan for the development of telecommunications network along the ancient silk route following the recent Sino-Indian agreement on border trade through Nathula in East Sikkim.

The plan to develop the telecommunication infrastructure along the trade route has been submitted to the ministry for approval, Sikkim Telecommunications general manager M K Seth told reporters in Gangtok on Thursday.

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Pointing out that this exercise was a must for the convenience of traders willing to operate along the route, he said the plan prepared by the state unit of BSNL also seeks to identify the places in the Nathula area where the corporation would like to set up its exchanges and widen its network.

Meanwhile, in view of the expected heavy traffic of calls after the opening of the trade route, the BSNL has already started upgrading its exchanges from Rangpo to Nathula.

"We have already undertaken replacement of outdated equipment and overall upgradation of our exchanges at Pakyong, Soreng and Rhenock in the first phase," Seth said, adding that upgradation of Majitar and Singtam exchanges will be taken up in the next phase.