Lok Sabha Question No. 5236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-05
Subject: Underground Cables
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAMESH BIDHURI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5236 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH   APRIL, 2017

## UNDERGROUND CABLES

- † 5236. SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to lay underground cables in the entire country for the purpose of communication and information technology;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the State-wise details of the total expenditure incurred in this regard during the current financial year;
- (d) whether the Government has fixed any norms to invite tenders in this regard; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) BharatNet  is  being  implemented  for  providing  broadband  connectivity  to  all Gram Panchayats (GPs) (approx. 2,50,000) in the country. Phase-I to connect 1,00,000 GPs is being implemented currently.  Connectivity to GPs in BharatNet Phase-I is being provided by laying underground Optical Fibre Cable (OFC).On 14.12.2016, the Telecom Commission approved a revised implementation strategy with Optimal mix of media i.e.  OFC (underground & aerial), radio & satellite to be used to connect remaining around 1,50,000 GPs in  BharatNet  Phase-II.
- (c) The state-wise details of the total expenditure incurred in this regard during the current financial year (till February, 2017) are given in Annexure-I.
- (d) & (e) Phase-I is being implemented through three CPSUs, namely BSNL,PGCIL and RailTel. Tender processes followed by these CPSUs are as per the respective CPSU tender procedures. Work of laying of Optical Fibre Cable  and procurement of equipment is being executed by  the  three  CPSUs  and  BBNL,  which  is  the  Special  Purpose  Vehicle  (SPV)  to implement BharatNet through open tender.

| Annexure-I                                                                                                                                  | Annexure-I                                                                                                                                  | Annexure-I                                                                                                                                  |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| The State-wise details of the total expenditure incurred under BharatNet project during the current financial year 2016-17 (till Feb, 2017) | The State-wise details of the total expenditure incurred under BharatNet project during the current financial year 2016-17 (till Feb, 2017) | The State-wise details of the total expenditure incurred under BharatNet project during the current financial year 2016-17 (till Feb, 2017) |
| S No.                                                                                                                                       | State                                                                                                                                       | Amount in Rs. (in Crore)                                                                                                                    |
| 1                                                                                                                                           | Kerala                                                                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                                                           |
| 2                                                                                                                                           | Assam                                                                                                                                       | 53.58                                                                                                                                       |
| 3                                                                                                                                           | Uttarakhand                                                                                                                                 | 205.55                                                                                                                                      |
| 4                                                                                                                                           | Punjab                                                                                                                                      | 58.82                                                                                                                                       |
| 5                                                                                                                                           | Haryana                                                                                                                                     | 13.28                                                                                                                                       |
| 6                                                                                                                                           | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                                                              | 300.91                                                                                                                                      |
| 7                                                                                                                                           | UP                                                                                                                                          | 89.10                                                                                                                                       |
| 8                                                                                                                                           | Chhattisgarh                                                                                                                                | 187.49                                                                                                                                      |
| 9                                                                                                                                           | Karnataka                                                                                                                                   | 1349.00                                                                                                                                     |
| 10                                                                                                                                          | Rajasthan                                                                                                                                   | 57.77                                                                                                                                       |
| 11                                                                                                                                          | A&N                                                                                                                                         | 0                                                                                                                                           |
| 12                                                                                                                                          | Bihar                                                                                                                                       | 23.02                                                                                                                                       |
| 13                                                                                                                                          | J & K                                                                                                                                       | 14.40                                                                                                                                       |
| 14                                                                                                                                          | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                 | 356.98                                                                                                                                      |
| 15                                                                                                                                          | West Bengal                                                                                                                                 | 71.71                                                                                                                                       |
| 16                                                                                                                                          | Sikkim                                                                                                                                      | 0                                                                                                                                           |
| 17                                                                                                                                          | Chandigarh                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                           |
| 18                                                                                                                                          | Lakshadweep                                                                                                                                 | 0                                                                                                                                           |
| 19                                                                                                                                          | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                              | 0                                                                                                                                           |
| 20                                                                                                                                          | Telengana                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                             |
| 21                                                                                                                                          | Odisha                                                                                                                                      | 205.44                                                                                                                                      |
| 22                                                                                                                                          | Jharkhand                                                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                             |
| 23                                                                                                                                          | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                            | 52.51                                                                                                                                       |
| 24                                                                                                                                          | Pudducherry                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                             |
| 25                                                                                                                                          | North East                                                                                                                                  | 247.46                                                                                                                                      |
| 26                                                                                                                                          | Gujarat, D&N, Daman &Diu                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                             |
| 27                                                                                                                                          | Tamilnadu                                                                                                                                   | 0                                                                                                                                           |
|                                                                                                                                             | Total                                                                                                                                       | 3287.05                                                                                                                                     |

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