BSNL, Coimbatore Telecom Circle, would soon provide Broadband kiosks with computer and internet connections in rural areas for rural people as part of an ambitious project of the Centre, a top BSNL official said today.

In the first phase, the corporation has identified 59 locations in the cirlce, with three to five kiosks in each village panchayat, to enable people utilise the facility for online bookings, education and also entertainment, Dr P T Mathews, Principal General Manager, told reporters here.

The kiosks would be ready by the end of this month or the first week of next month, he said.

For this purpose, BSNL has already laid six lakh opticfibre cables across the country, utilising Universal Service Obligation Fund. A minimum charge of Rs five would be charged for browsing, Mathews said.

Stating that computer penetration in villages in India is less than one per cent, as against 20 in developed countries, he said non-availability of computers at affordable prices was one of the major reasons for this plight.

Earlier, Mathews participateed in the celebration of landmark milestone of 100th 'computer tiruvizha' (mela), where INTEL provided access and adoption of PCs and IT to the citizens of Tamil Nadu along with BSNL.

Gopal Swaminathan,Director-sales and Marketing group, Intel South Asia, said the company has showcased features and benefits of a personal computer the features and benefits of a personal computer through these melas.

Over 60,000 people in the rural areas were trained in using the facility, Swaminathan said.