Lok Sabha Question No. 222 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: BharatNet Project in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: V. Kalanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 222 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  MARCH, 2021

## BHARATNET PROJECT IN TAMIL NADU

| *222.       | DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:                                                                                                                                                            |
|-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| (a)         | the salient features of the BharatNet Project;                                                                                                                                       |
| (b) during  | the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under this project in Tamil Nadu the last three years;                                                                   |
| (c) project | the details of the targets set and the achievements made so far by the Government under this in Tamil Nadu;                                                                          |
| (d) slowed  | whether the Government is aware that lack of workers coupled with shortage of funds has down this project in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and |
| (e)         | the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard? ANSWER MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW&JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)   |
| (a) to (e)  | A statement is laid on the Table of the House.                                                                                                                                       |

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  222  FOR  10 TH   MARCH,  2021 REGARDING 'BHARATNET PROJECT IN TAMIL NADU'.

(a) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner  to provide broadband connectivity  to  all  Gram  Panchayats  (approximately  2.5  lakh)  in  the  country.  The  infrastructure created under BharatNet project will be a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the Service Providers. It aims to provide affordable broadband services to citizens and institutions in rural and remote areas.

(b) Bharat  Broadband  Network  Limited  (BBNL),  the  Executing  Agency  for  BharatNet  Project under Department of Telecommunications, has released Rs. 110 crore (approx.) for implementation of the project in Tamil Nadu during the last three years.

(c) to (e) The lack of workers coupled with shortage of funds has not slowed down this project in Tamil Nadu. The State Government has shown keen interest in this project and has envisaged an enhanced  architecture  for  BharatNet  network.  The  Department  of  Telecommunications  is  also  in active engagement with the State Government for effective project implementation.

The BharatNet project is being implemented in Tamil Nadu by the State Government under 4 Packages  (namely  A,  B,  C  and  D).  Letters  of  Acceptance  (LoA)  have  been  issued  for  all  the  4 Packages.  However,  in  a  petition  filed  by  a  vendor  for  B  package,  the  petition  is  allowed  with directions  to  consider  the  bid,  submitted  by  the  vendor,  for  further  evaluation  on  merits  and  in accordance with law, as per the directions dated 02.03.2021 of Hon'ble High Court of Madras. The timeline for project completion is 360 days from the date of issuance of Award of Work.

Further, for expediting  the  implementation  of  the  BharatNet  project  in  Tamil  Nadu, Department of Telecommunications and its Agencies have been holding regular meetings with the State Government.

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