Lok Sabha Question No. 291 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: BSNL Optical Fiber Network
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Rajashree Mallick, Ramesh Chandra Majhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 291 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## BSNL OPTICAL FIBER NETWORK

## *291.   SHRIMATI RAJASHREE MALLICK: SHRI RAMESH CHANDRA MAJHI:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the district-wise/Tehsil-wise number of Gram Panchayats in the country which have  been  connected  through  Optical  Fiber  Network  of  BSNL  particularly  in  Jagatsinghpur  and Nabarangpur Parliamentary Constituency;
- (b) the details of the number of Panchayats which are still deprived of this service along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide optical fiber network connectivity to all the Gram Panchayats, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  the  amount  of  funds  allocated  by  the  Government  for  laying  Optical  Fiber Network in Jagatsinghpur and Nabarangpur Parliamentary Constituency till date and during the last seven years;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  provision  to  provide  Optical  Fiber  Network connectivity to the remaining Gram Panchayats; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof along with the funds sanctioned during the current year?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS AND

## INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f) 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 (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 291 FOR 9 TH  AUGUST , 2023 REGARDING 'BSNL OPTICAL FIBER NETWORK.'

(a) to (f) BharatNet is  being  implemented by Government of Odisha under state led model. Under BharatNet, which is being implemented in phased manner, out of 2,64,380 Gram Panchayats (GPs) 1,91,107 GPs have been connected through Optical Fiber Network (OFC) in the country. Out of these, 1,20,260 GPs are connected leveraging Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) OFC under phase-I.

In Jagatsinghpur Constituency, all 333 GPs are connected (322 GPs in Phase-I and 11 GPs in Phase-II). In Nabarangpur Constituency, out of 351 GPs, 343 GPs are connected on OFC in PhaseII by Government of Odisha under state-led model. The remaining 8 GPs are connected on Satellite.

In state-led model, project execution, Operation & Maintenance (O&M) and Utilisation is the responsibility of State government.

Under BharatNet Project, funds are disbursed State/UT- wise.Funds disbursed for the State of Odisha including Jagatsinghpur and Nabarangpur Parliamentary Constituency till date and during last seven years is as given below:

| Financial Year            |   Funds disbursed under BharatNet Project (INR in Crores) |
|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| 2016-17 to 2022-23        |                                                   1039.14 |
| 2023-24 (till 30-06-2023) |                                                     23.43 |

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