Lok Sabha Question No. 2570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-04
Subject: Implementation of BharatNet Project in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2570 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH   DECEMBER, 2019

## IMPLEMENTATION OF BHARATNET PROJECT IN ANDHRA PRADESH

## 2570.   SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH: SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the State Government of Andhra Pradesh has sought funds from the Government for the implementation of Phase I and II of BharatNet Project in the State particularly in Amravati and other cities/towns post bifurcation of the State and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereon;
- (b) the  funds  released  and  works  undertaken  by  the  Government  so  far  for  the  proposed  seven unified  tribal  areas  development  with  provision  of  network  in  2318  villages  under  the  Phase  II  of BharatNet Project and for setting up of 1082 mobile towers in the State;
- (c) the funds to be released to complete the BharatNet Project in the State and the deadline fixed and the target achieved so far by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the  target  set  by  the  Government  to  lay  additional  optical  fibre  to  complete  the  aforesaid project;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to link BharatNet Project with AP Fibre Grid Project, if so, the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  funds  released  to  AP  Fibre  Grid Project; and
- (f) whether  the  Union  Government  objected  to  low  quality  of  cables  used  from  China  local market and refused to fund the AP Fibre Grid Power Project, if so, the details and the present status thereof along with MoU signed in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner  to provide broadband connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats (approx. 2,50,000) in the country, including Andhra Pradesh.

A  proposal  was  received  from  the  State  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  for  establishing Andhra  Pradesh  (AP)  Fibre  Grid,  which  inter  alia  includes  connectivity  from  Mandal  to  Gram Panchayats, with support from Universal Service Obligation Funds/Department of Telecommunications.  However,  with  the  approval  of  the  Telecom  Commission,  the  Phase-I  of BharatNet in the State has been implemented by Power Grid Corporation India Limited (PGCIL).

Subsequently,  a  modified  strategy  was  approved  by  the  Union  Cabinet  on  19.07.2017  for implementation  of  BharatNet  project.  The  modified  strategy  also  includes  the  State-led  model  for implementation  of  BharatNet  Phase-II.  Accordingly,  based  on  the  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR) submitted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Telecom Commission (now known as Digital Communications Commission) has approved the implementation of BharatNet Phase-II under Stateled Model in the State including the Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Amravati and other cities/towns.

(b) to (d) Under  Left Wing  Extremism  (LWE)  affected  areas  (Phase-II) project, mobile connectivity, by using 2G + 4G technology, is to be provided in inhabited and uncovered villages at 346 tower locations (identified by Ministry of Home Affairs, in the LWE affected areas) in Andhra Pradesh and a tender for the same has been floated.

In Andhra Pradesh, the estimated cost of the BharatNet Phase-II is Rs. 1162.17 crore and the revenue received during the tenure of 3 years will be deducted. The funds for the project are released to the State as a whole and not District/Area-wise. As of now, Rs. 227.12 crore has been released to the State and the balance funds are to be released, as per the terms & conditions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the State Government.

Under BharatNet Phase-II in the State, as on 22.11.2019, by laying 12,933 km Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), a total of 2,526 GPs have been connected.

The  BharatNet  project  is  under  implementation  in  Andhra  Pradesh  State  and  the  project  is targeted to be completed by March 2020.

(e) & (f) As per  the  approval  of  the  Union  Cabinet,  BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented with the objective to create network infrastructure for providing Broadband connectivity at all GPs. Accordingly, linking of BharatNet Project with AP Fibre Grid Project, with funding from Department of Telecommunications/Universal Service Obligation Funds, is not presently under consideration.

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