Lok Sabha Question No. 365 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Digital Infrastructure  in Rural Areas
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 365 ANSWERED ON 19/08/2025

## DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL AREAS

- *365. Shri Benny Behanan:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of steps taken by the Government to improve digital infrastructure in rural areas to facilitate access to Government services;
- (b) whether the lack of internet connectivity hampers the implementation of welfare schemes in rural regions; and
- (c) the roadmap to bridge the digital gap between urban and rural areas?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

- (a) to (c):       A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *365  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON 19.08.2025REGARDING 'DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL AREAS'

(a) to (c): As informed by the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, for providing high bandwidth capacity internet/broadband  connectivity  and  mobile  services  to  remote  & rural villages and  islands in the country  that currently lack coverage, a number of steps & projects have been taken up by the Department  of  Telecommunications.  The  BharatNet  project  is being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  provide  broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages beyond GPs on  demand  basis  across  the  country.  The  infrastructure  created under BharatNet project is a national asset, accessible on a nondiscriminatory basis to the Service Providers, and the same can be utilized to provide broadband services, such as Fibre to the Home (FTTH)  connections,  leased  lines,  dark  fibre,  backhaul  to  mobile towers,  etc.  On  04.08.2023,  the  Union  Cabinet  has  approved  the Amended  BharatNet  Program  (ABP)  under  Design,  Build,  Operate and Maintain (DBOM) model, for up-gradation of existing network of BharatNet  Phase-I  and  Phase-II,  creation  of  network  in  balance GPs, Operation and Maintenance for 10 years and utilization. As of June,  2025,  2,14,325  GPs  have  been  made  service  ready  under BharatNet project in the country.

For provision of high-speed internet/data and Mobile Services in uncovered remote & rural areas of the country, various targeted schemes/projects have been implemented. Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for  mobile  connectivity  in  the North Eastern Region, Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for Islands (Andaman  &  Nicobar and Lakshadweep  Islands), Scheme for providing mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, Schemes for providing mobile services in Aspirational Districts, Scheme for providing mobile services in the border villages and other priority areas, 4G Saturation scheme to provide mobile coverage in all uncovered villages, etc. The project for  saturation  of  4G  mobile  services  for  providing  4G  mobile services in uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas of the country is also under implementation at a total cost of Rs. 26,316 crore. Till June 2025, 21,748 mobile towers have been commissioned  in  the  country  under  various  Government  funded mobile projects.

Various optical fibre cable projects such as commissioning of submarine  optical  fibre  cable  between  Chennai  and  Andaman  & Nicobar  Islands  (2312  Km),  commissioning  of  Submarine  OFC connectivity  between  Mainland  (Kochi)  and  Lakshadweep  Islands (1869  km),  creation  of  225  Km  OFC  network  in  Lakshadweep Islands have facilitated faster roll out of fixed line broadband/internet  services,  mobile  services  (4G/5G)  and  other high-speed data services in the Islands.

The Department of Rural Development with the support of the National  Informatics  Centre,  Centre  for  Development  of  Advance Computing and Digital  India  Corporation  has  designed,  developed and implemented various IT driven solutions for implementation of its  flagship  schemes.  In  order  to  mitigate  digital  divide  and  to ensure last mile reach, the digital governance solutions delivering services  at  Gram  Panchayat  level  are  developed  with  offline capabilities.  This  ensures  that  access  to  these  solutions  are  not limited  to  internet  connected  areas  but  also  to  remote  or  nonconnected areas.

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