Lok Sabha Question No. 181 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-15
Subject: Bharat Net Project
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: SRINIVAS KESINENI, P.K.SREEMATHI TEACHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.181 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  MARCH, 2017

## BHARAT NET PROJECT

- *181.  SHRI KESINENI NANI: SHRIMATI P.K. SREEMATHI TEACHER:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Bharat  Net  Project  has  been  launched  in  mission  mode  to  connect  all Gram Panchayats to provide high speed internet services in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of Gram Panchayats that have been connected through optical fibre under the project, State/UT-wise along with the number of Gram Panchayats which are yet to be linked, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the delay in the progress of the said project and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the corrective action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the funds allocated/released/utilized for the project during each of the last three years and the current year and the time by which the said project is likely to be wholly operational; and
- (e) the details of other projects implemented under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to augment mobile and internet connectivity across the country along with the fund generated through USOF and utilized during the last three years?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Contd…….2/-

## STATEMENT  TO  BE  LAID  ON  THE  TABLE  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  IN  RESPECT  OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.181 FOR 15 TH    MARCH, 2017 REGARDING 'BHARAT NET PROJECT '.

(a) BharatNet project is being implemented with the objective to create network infrastructure for providing Broadband connectivity of 100 Mbps to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) (approx. 2,50,000) in the  country.  Bharat  Broadband    Network  Limited  (BBNL)  is  the  special  purpose  vehicle  (SPV)  to implement,  operate  and  manage  the  project.  The  Phase-I  to  connect  1,00,000  GPs  by  laying underground Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) is being implemented through three CPSUs  namely, BSNL, RailTel & PGCIL. Non-discriminatory access is to be provided to the service providers for provision of services.

- (b) The  State/UT-wise  list  of  GPs  which  have  been  connected  by  optical  fibre  cable  under BharatNet is at Annexure-I.
- (c) Government has taken cognizance of the delay in the project and identified the reasons for delay and taken corrective actions as under :
1. Reasons for delay :
- (i) Delay in the initial commencement of project due  to  field survey of GPs to assess the cable route and length, and pilot testing of the technology model.
- (ii) Implementation of the project only through three CPSUs namely, BSNL, RailTel and PGCIL
- (iii) Connectivity to GPs only by laying underground OFC.
- (iv) Inadequate  quality  of  BSNL  fibre  between  Block  and  Fibre  Point  of  Interconnect (FPOI) being used to connect GPs.
- (v) Centralised procedure of procurement and sourcing of equipment through BBNL.
2. Corrective actions taken :
- (i) Telecom  Commission  approved  revised  implementation  strategy  on  30.04.2016. According to revised strategy
- a. Implementation  of  the  project  is  to  be  done  in  phases;    Phase-I  to  connect 1,00,000 GPs  by following the current methodology to connect by underground OFC; Phase-II to connect remaining GPs  through optimal mix of underground/ aerial OFC, radio and satellite media.
- b. Implementation  of  Phase-II  through  States  and  private  sector  in  addition  to CPSUs.
- (ii) Replacement  of    BSNL's  existing  fibre  wherever  the  quality  of  the  cable  is  not adequate.
- (iii) Work front for Phase-I has been increased to 1,25,000.
- (iv) Decentralised  procurement of equipment through implementing  CPSUs in addition to Bharat Broadband Network Ltd. (BBNL).
- (v) Empowered Committee under Secretary (T), Steering Committee under Administrator,  USOF    and  State-level      Committees  have  been  set  up      for monitoring of the progress and resolution of issues.
- (vi) Operation & Maintenance (O&M) and revenue sharing arrangement between BBNL and BSNL has been approved by DoT.
- (vii) For  laying  of  aerial  OFC,  advance  funding  to  conduct  GIS  mapping  of  electricity poles has been provided to seven states.

Contd……3/-

(d) The funds allocated/released/utilised for the BharatNet project during each of the last three years and the current year are given below:

| Sl. No.   | Year                   | Fund allocated (Rs. in crore)   | Fund Utilized crore)   | (Rs. in   |
|-----------|------------------------|---------------------------------|------------------------|-----------|
| 1         | 2012-13                | 405.00                          | 405.00                 |           |
| 2         | 2013-14                | 514.00                          |                        | 514.00    |
| 3         | 2014-15                |                                 | 1351.86                | 1351.86   |
| 4         | 2015-16                |                                 | 2415.10                | 2415.10   |
| 5         | 2016-17 (till Feb '17) |                                 | 4616.83                | 4616.83   |
|           | Total                  | 9302.79                         |                        | 9302.79   |

Phase-I  to  connect  1,00,000  GPs  is  scheduled    to  be  completed  by  March,  2017.      The connectivity to all the GPs is to be provided by December, 2018.

(e) The  other  projects  being  implemented  by  Universal  Services  Obligation  Fund  (USOF)  to augment mobile and internet connectivity are as below :

- (i) Scheme to provide mobile connectivity in Left Wing Extremist (LWE) areas is  under implementation  through  BSNL.  So  far,  a  total  of  2186  mobile  towers  out  of  2199 locations in ten states as identified by MHA and approved by the Cabinet, have started radiating.
- (ii) Other schemes funded by USOF  include comprehensive telecom development plan for  the  North  Eastern  Region  to  provide  mobile  connectivity  in  8621  uncovered villages, mobile connectivity in 172 uncovered villages in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, sub-marine OFC connectivity from mainland India (Chennai) to Port Blair, augmentation of satellite bandwidth in   Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands,  augmentation  of  OFC  network  from  district  to  sub-district  headquarters  in North East.

The funds generated through USOF and utilised is given below :

| Financial Year (1)           |   Funds Collected as USL (2) |   Funds disbursed (3) |
|------------------------------|------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 2013-14                      |                      7896.39 |               2163.45 |
| 2014-15                      |                      7537.88 |               2086.98 |
| 2015-16                      |                      9835.7  |               3100    |
| 2016-17 (Prov. Till Feb '17) |                      6907.79 |               4903.77 |
| Total                        |                     32177.8  |              12254.2  |

(Rupees in Crore)

Contd……..4/-

## BharatNet Phase-I Status as on 05.03.2017

| Sr. No   | State                | Total GPs   | GPs in Phase-1                                                                                                        | Pipe laid                                                                                                             | Cable laid                                                                                                            | Pipe laid                                                                                                             | Cable laid                                                                                                            | GPs Lit                                                                                                               |
|----------|----------------------|-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|          | Units                |             | GPs                                                                                                                   | (Kms)                                                                                                                 | (Kms)                                                                                                                 | GPs                                                                                                                   | GPs                                                                                                                   | GPs                                                                                                                   |
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh       | 12920       | The state has shown willingness to implement the project for all GPs in AP through State led model through aerial OFC | The state has shown willingness to implement the project for all GPs in AP through State led model through aerial OFC | The state has shown willingness to implement the project for all GPs in AP through State led model through aerial OFC | The state has shown willingness to implement the project for all GPs in AP through State led model through aerial OFC | The state has shown willingness to implement the project for all GPs in AP through State led model through aerial OFC | The state has shown willingness to implement the project for all GPs in AP through State led model through aerial OFC |
| 2        | Arunachal Pradesh    | 1766        | 863                                                                                                                   | 1169                                                                                                                  | 217                                                                                                                   | 419                                                                                                                   | 44                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 3        | Assam                | 2589        | 1540                                                                                                                  | 3457                                                                                                                  | 2743                                                                                                                  | 1287                                                                                                                  | 962                                                                                                                   | 354                                                                                                                   |
| 4        | Bihar                | 8380        | 5750                                                                                                                  | 10616                                                                                                                 | 8921                                                                                                                  | 4338                                                                                                                  | 3443                                                                                                                  | 442                                                                                                                   |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh         | 9770        | 4004                                                                                                                  | 8634                                                                                                                  | 5369                                                                                                                  | 2991                                                                                                                  | 1862                                                                                                                  | 1237                                                                                                                  |
| 6        | Gujarat              | 14050       | 6979                                                                                                                  | 9287                                                                                                                  | 7606                                                                                                                  | 4148                                                                                                                  | 3462                                                                                                                  | 330                                                                                                                   |
| 7        | Haryana              | 6090        | 6090                                                                                                                  | 8410                                                                                                                  | 6685                                                                                                                  | 5041                                                                                                                  | 4155                                                                                                                  | 650                                                                                                                   |
| 8        | Himachal Pradesh     | 3243        | 283                                                                                                                   | 442                                                                                                                   | 336                                                                                                                   | 110                                                                                                                   | 107                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 9        | Jammu &Kashmir       | 4099        | 680                                                                                                                   | 336                                                                                                                   | 300                                                                                                                   | 175                                                                                                                   | 150                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 10       | Jharkhand            | 4423        | 2713                                                                                                                  | 4182                                                                                                                  | 3625                                                                                                                  | 1517                                                                                                                  | 1387                                                                                                                  | 344                                                                                                                   |
| 11       | Karnataka            | 5599        | 5599                                                                                                                  | 10704                                                                                                                 | 11054                                                                                                                 | 5643                                                                                                                  | 5558                                                                                                                  | 4826                                                                                                                  |
| 12       | Kerala               | 977         | 977                                                                                                                   | 720                                                                                                                   | 826                                                                                                                   | 1129                                                                                                                  | 1129                                                                                                                  | 1129                                                                                                                  |
| 13       | Madhya Pradesh       | 23024       | 12564                                                                                                                 | 33011                                                                                                                 | 24767                                                                                                                 | 11137                                                                                                                 | 8212                                                                                                                  | 2085                                                                                                                  |
| 14       | Maharashtra          | 27987       | 15335                                                                                                                 | 23881                                                                                                                 | 21725                                                                                                                 | 11898                                                                                                                 | 9625                                                                                                                  | 1483                                                                                                                  |
| 15       | Manipur              | 2794        | 904                                                                                                                   | 196                                                                                                                   | 73                                                                                                                    | 82                                                                                                                    | 24                                                                                                                    | 26                                                                                                                    |
| 16       | Meghalaya            | 1208        | 1208                                                                                                                  | 1188                                                                                                                  | 321                                                                                                                   | 414                                                                                                                   | 94                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 17       | Mizoram              | 645         | 645                                                                                                                   | 638                                                                                                                   | 210                                                                                                                   | 60                                                                                                                    | 7                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 18       | Nagaland             | 1124        | 994                                                                                                                   | 2443                                                                                                                  | 998                                                                                                                   | 759                                                                                                                   | 527                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 19       | Odisha               | 6235        | 4289                                                                                                                  | 6739                                                                                                                  | 5989                                                                                                                  | 2550                                                                                                                  | 2452                                                                                                                  | 445                                                                                                                   |
| 20       | Punjab               | 12945       | 8171                                                                                                                  | 8464                                                                                                                  | 7642                                                                                                                  | 6060                                                                                                                  | 5312                                                                                                                  | 102                                                                                                                   |
| 21       | Rajasthan            | 9157        | 8207                                                                                                                  | 18352                                                                                                                 | 16447                                                                                                                 | 6365                                                                                                                  | 5463                                                                                                                  | 1044                                                                                                                  |
| 22       | Sikkim               | 163         | 55                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                       |                                                                                                                       |
| 23       | Telangana            | 8759        | 2097                                                                                                                  | 4492                                                                                                                  | 4285                                                                                                                  | 1977                                                                                                                  | 1937                                                                                                                  | 130                                                                                                                   |
| 24       | Tripura              | 1021        | 1021                                                                                                                  | 1615                                                                                                                  | 1461                                                                                                                  | 785                                                                                                                   | 708                                                                                                                   | 79                                                                                                                    |
| 25       | Uttar Pradesh (E)    | 37461       | 17645                                                                                                                 | 28540                                                                                                                 | 24563                                                                                                                 | 15076                                                                                                                 | 11930                                                                                                                 | 882                                                                                                                   |
| 26       | Uttar Pradesh (W)    | 14515       | 10050                                                                                                                 | 15619                                                                                                                 | 14028                                                                                                                 | 8128                                                                                                                  | 6506                                                                                                                  | 424                                                                                                                   |
| 27       | Uttarakhand          | 7555        | 1885                                                                                                                  | 2496                                                                                                                  | 2318                                                                                                                  | 1359                                                                                                                  | 1251                                                                                                                  | 288                                                                                                                   |
| 28       | West Bengal          | 3354        | 2751                                                                                                                  | 3985                                                                                                                  | 3661                                                                                                                  | 1467                                                                                                                  | 1414                                                                                                                  | 219                                                                                                                   |
| 29       | Andaman &Nicobar     | 69          | 69                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                       |
| 30       | Chandigarh           | 12          | 12                                                                                                                    | 18                                                                                                                    | 19                                                                                                                    | 12                                                                                                                    | 12                                                                                                                    | 12                                                                                                                    |
| 31       | Dadra &Nagar Havelli | 21          | 21                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 32       | Daman &Diu           | 17          | 17                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 33       | Lakshadweep          | 10          | 10                                                                                                                    | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     | 0                                                                                                                     |
| 34       | Puducherry           | 98          | 98                                                                                                                    | 82                                                                                                                    | 92                                                                                                                    | 98                                                                                                                    | 98                                                                                                                    | 101                                                                                                                   |
|          | Total                | 232080      | 123526                                                                                                                | 211630                                                                                                                | 176304                                                                                                                | 95025                                                                                                                 | 77831                                                                                                                 | 16632                                                                                                                 |

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## Annexure-I