The much-awaited mobile phone services in the state of Jammu and Kashmir were launched on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee receiving the first call from the state Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in Srinagar.

Speaking at a launch function at his residence in New Delhi, the prime minister said that the mobile services were not just for the elite and affluent, but had been effective in reducing distances and bringing people closer.

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"I am happy that the promise I had made has been fulfilled today," Vajpayee said.

"On August 15, I had said that Jammu and Kashmir's atmosphere is changing, and the launch of mobile services is a step in that direction," he said.

He said that bringing a connectivity revolution in the country was a matter of top priority. Even the golden quadrilateral road programme was a step in this direction.

"We want to take the railways to the Valley so that commuting becomes easy," Vajpayee said.

Bharat Sanchar nigam Ltd's cellular services are being rolled out in J&K in a phased manner, starting with Jammu, Srinagar and Katra.