Lok Sabha Question No. 3597 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-08
Subject: Disruption in Digital Infrastructure
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAJIV PRATAP RUDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3597 TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 TH   AUGUST, 2018

## DISRUPTION IN DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

3597. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  disruptions  in  digital  infrastructure caused by infrastructure related construction activities like laying roads, railways etc.;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and measures taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether  there  is  a  huge  gap  in  internet  connectivity  and  digital  infrastructure between States depending on the State and their network infrastructure; and
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor, State/ UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) A Committee of Secretaries has been formed to examine the possibilities of development  of  common/integrated  infrastructure  such  as  common  ducts  for  utilities. Laying  of  such  utility  ducts  will  address  disruption  in  digital  infrastructure  caused  by infrastructure related construction activities; and
- (c) & (d) For  internet  connectivity  availability  of  telecom  network  is  required.  The growth of telecom network infrastructure has made possible connectivity throughout the country. However, there are 43,088 inhabited villages in the country which do not have mobile  connectivity. The  State/UT-wise  details  of  villages  not  covered  by  mobile connectivity is at Annexure.

## Annexure

## State/UT-wise details of villages not covered by mobile connectivity

| Sl. No.   | State Name           | Number of inhabited villages as per census 2011   | Number of uncovered inhabited villages as per census 2011   |
|-----------|----------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andaman & Nicobar    | 396                                               | 165                                                         |
| 2.        | Andhra Pradesh       | 16158                                             | 2745                                                        |
| 3.        | Arunachal Pradesh    | 5258                                              | 2215                                                        |
| 4.        | Assam                | 25372                                             | 915                                                         |
| 5.        | Bihar                | 39073                                             | 263                                                         |
| 6.        | Chandigarh           | 5                                                 | 0                                                           |
| 7.        | Chhattisgarh         | 19567                                             | 3563                                                        |
| 8.        | Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 65                                                | 0                                                           |
| 9.        | Daman & Diu          | 19                                                | 0                                                           |
| 10.       | Delhi                | 103                                               | 0                                                           |
| 11.       | Goa                  | 320                                               | 47                                                          |
| 12.       | Gujarat              | 17843                                             | 1262                                                        |
| 13.       | Haryana              | 6642                                              | 8                                                           |
| 14.       | Himachal Pradesh     | 17882                                             | 211                                                         |
| 15.       | Jammu & Kashmir      | 6337                                              | 328                                                         |
| 16.       | Jharkhand            | 29492                                             | 1222                                                        |
| 17.       | Karnataka            | 27397                                             | 869                                                         |
| 18.       | Kerala               | 1017                                              | 0                                                           |
| 19.       | Lakshadweep          | 6                                                 | 1                                                           |
| 20.       | Madhya Pradesh       | 51929                                             | 5558                                                        |
| 21.       | Maharashtra          | 40959                                             | 6117                                                        |
| 22.       | Manipur              | 2515                                              | 877                                                         |
| 23.       | Meghalaya            | 6459                                              | 2691                                                        |
| 24.       | Mizoram              | 704                                               | 314                                                         |
| 25.       | Nagaland             | 1400                                              | 328                                                         |
| 26.       | Odisha               | 47677                                             | 9940                                                        |
| 27.       | Punjab               | 12168                                             | 4                                                           |
| 28.       | Puducherry           | 90                                                | 0                                                           |
| 29.       | Rajasthan            | 43264                                             | 1402                                                        |
| 30.       | Sikkim               | 425                                               | 13                                                          |
| 31.       | Tamil Nadu           | 15049                                             | 83                                                          |
| 32.       | Telangana            | 10128                                             | 647                                                         |
| 33.       | Tripura              | 863                                               | 16                                                          |
| 34.       | Uttarakhand          | 15745                                             | 552                                                         |
| 35.       | Uttar Pradesh        | 97813                                             | 295                                                         |
| 36.       | West Bengal          | 37478                                             | 437                                                         |
|           | TOTAL                | 5,97,618                                          | 43,088                                                      |

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