Lok Sabha Question No. 1056 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: National Optical Fibre Network Project
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Sunil Baburao Mendhe, Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1056 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JULY, 2023

## NATIONAL OPTICAL FIBRE NETWORK PROJECT

## 1056.   SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the optical fibre cables laid in the country including in Maharashtra so far under National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project along with the total cost of project and the funds allocated;
- (b) the details of the number of Gram Panchayats in Maharashtra and Jharkhand that have been connected with broadband and Wi-Fi hotspots so far under the said project;
- (c) the reasons for a number of Gram Panchayats not being connected to the said services in Maharashtra and Jharkhand under the said project so far;
- (d) the district-wise details of Gram Panchayats of Jharkhand State yet to be connected; and
- (e) the time by which these are likely to be connected?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

- (a) The details of Optical Fibre Cable laid, funds disbursed as of June 2023 for implementation of BharatNet Project in the country and Maharashtra is given in table below: <pre>

|             | Total (in kms)   | Capex (INR Cr.)   | Opex (INR Cr.)   |
|-------------|------------------|-------------------|------------------|
| National    | 6,43,450         | 28,441.97         | 7,263. 04        |
| Maharashtra | 82,485           | 4,116.72          | 354.26           |

</pre>

The total cost approved by the Cabinet for National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project (now renamed as BharatNet) for Phase-I and Phase-II is Rs 42,068 Cr.

- (b) As  on  30.06.2023,  23,963  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)  in  Maharashtra  and  4,378  GPs  in Jharkhand have been made service ready under BharatNet project. Wi-Fi hotspots have been installed in 12,054 GPs in Maharashtra and 2,418 GPs in Jharkhand under the project.
- (c) In Jharkhand, all but 38 GPs have been connected under BharatNet, while in Maharashtra, the work is in progress under BharatNet Phase-II in the State-led model by Maharashtra Information Technology Corporation Limited (MahaIT), the Special Purpose Vehicle of the State Government. The status is given in table below:

<pre>

| State       | Total no. of GPs   | GPs Service ready   | GPs yet to be connected   |
|-------------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------------|
| Maharashtra | 27,939             | 23,963              | 3,976                     |
| Jharkhand   | 4,416              | 4,378               | 38                        |

</pre>

The challenges faced in timely execution of project are that GPs are widely dispersed across remote corners of the country, difficult terrains (including Hilly/ Rocky areas) and also difficulty for access in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas etc.

(d) District-wise number of Gram Panchayats yet to be made service ready in Jharkhand under BharatNet Project is given in Annexure-I .

(e) Timeline  for  completion  of  BharatNet  project  is  2025  including  for  remaining  GPs  of Jharkhand State.

Annexure referred  to  in  Part  (d)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  1056  for  answer  on 26.07.2023

## District-wise number of Gram Panchayats(GPs) yet to be made service ready in Jharkhand under BharatNet Project

| District       |   No. of GPs yet to be connected |
|----------------|----------------------------------|
| BOKARO         |                                1 |
| DEOGHAR        |                                1 |
| EAST SINGHBUM  |                                6 |
| GIRIDIH        |                                1 |
| GODDA          |                                1 |
| HAZARIBAGH     |                                3 |
| LATEHAR        |                                8 |
| LOHARDAGA      |                                3 |
| PALAMU         |                                4 |
| RAMGARH        |                                1 |
| RANCHI         |                                3 |
| SAHEBGANJ      |                                4 |
| WEST SINGHBHUM |                                2 |
| Total          |                               38 |

*****