opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 2945 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Construction of Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kantilal Bhuria

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2945 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## CONSTRUCTION OF RAIL LINE

†2945. SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether Railways is acquiring land for construction of rail line between Dungarpur of Rajasthan and Ratlam of Madhya Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  Railways  is  paying  compensation  to  the  tune  of  four
- times of the cost of land to the farmers in Rajasthan; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  reasons  for  giving  compensation  at  the  rate  of  two
- times of the cost of land to the farmers in Madhya Pradesh?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) & (b): As per the MoU signed between Government of Rajasthan and  Ministry  of  Railways,  land  for  Rajasthan  portion  of  RatlamDungarpur  new  rail  line  project  has  to  be  directly  acquired  by Government  of  Rajasthan  with  their  own  funds.  Land  for  Madhya Pradesh  portion  has  to  be  acquired  by  the  Railways  through Government of Madhya Pradesh with the funds from Government of Rajasthan.

Out of a total of 1191 hectares of private land (916 hectares in Rajasthan  and  275  hectares  in  Madhya  Pradesh)  required,  342.22 hectares have been acquired. (c):  Government of Rajasthan is acquiring land in Rajasthan at it's own cost as per their own policies. (d):  Awards  for  compensation  for  acquisition  of  land  in  Madhya Pradesh has been prepared by District Collector, Ratlam. Demand is raised to Government of Rajasthan as per the award, for payment to the Collector.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2943 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Disabled Friendly Services at Stations and Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: KALIKESH NARAYAN SINGH DEO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2943 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## DISABLED FRIENDLY SERVICES AT STATIONS AND TRAINS

## 2943.    SHRI KALIKESH N. SINGH DEO:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  facility  of  wheel  chairs  has  been  provided  for  the disabled  and  senior  citizens  at  all  railway  stations  across  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)    the  timeline  for  making  provision  of  wheel  chairs  at  all  railway stations and the funds likely to be incurred in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (c): Instructions exist for provision of Wheelchairs at stations. This facility is provided, duly escorted by coolies (on payment) as per present practice.  However,  Zonal  Railways  have  also  been  advised  to  provide one  wheelchair  per  platform  and  in  case  of  island  platforms,  one wheelchair  per  two  platforms  at  all  A-1  and  A  category  stations. Moreover, General Managers have also been authorised to reduce/increase  the  number  of  wheelchairs  to  be  provided  at  stations based on the passenger traffic handled at the station and the assessed requirement  of  wheelchairs  at  the  stations.  Funds  in  this  regard  are generally incurred under Plan Head - 'Passenger Amenities'.

***
Lok Sabha Question No. 2941 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Unsolicited Call/SMS
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2941 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2016

## UNSOLICITED CALL/SMS

2941. DR. BOORA NARSAIAH GOUD:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it has  come  to  the  notice  of the Ministry that telecallers are circumventing do-not-disturb rules and finding new  ways  and  means  to call customers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government against such telecallers;
- (c) whether  TRAI  has  come  out  with  an  App  to  help  customers  to  report  any unwanted calls; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the procedure to upload the App?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) Madam,  TRAI  has  laid  down  a  framework  for  regulating  Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) in 2010, which came into effect from September, 2011. Regulations  have  been  reviewed  periodically  to  tighten  the  regulatory framework to address these issues. With the steps taken, the UCC complaints have decreased from 44000  per  week  in  September,  2011  to  3460  in  2 nd week  of  July, 2016. From the complaints received by service providers regarding receipt of UCC, it is seen that, mostly subscribers without getting themselves registered with TRAI as a Telemarketers are violating the provisions of the Telecom Commercial Communications  Customer  Preference  Regulations,  2010  by  sending  UCC  to customers registered in the National Customer Preference Register for not receiving such communications. However, upon receipt of complaint, the Regulation provides for  disconnection  of  all  telecom  resources  and  blacklisting  of  name  and  address  of such subscriber for two years and during such period he will not be allowed to take any telephone connection. 317784 numbers of such unregistered Telemarketers have been blacklisted for 2 years till 14.07.2016.
- (c) & (d) Yes,  TRAI  has  developed  a  mobile  App  'DND  Services'  to  help customers report any unwanted calls through easy registration of UCC Complaints to the service providers. With this App, the customer can also check the status of his complaint. This app is available at the Google App store and Mobile Seva App store. The links for the apps are given below:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trai.dnd&he=en and   https://apps.mgov.gov.in/descp.do?appid=1087

************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2939 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Over Bridge Near Hazaribagh Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2939 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## OVER BRIDGE NEAR HAZARIBAGH RAILWAY STATION

† 2939.  DR. RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether an over bridge near Hazaribagh Road (Jharkhand) railway station  has  not  been  constructed  despite  approval  having  been granted;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to take up construction of the said over bridge at an early date;
- (c) if so, the details thereof an if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) the present status of the said Bridge?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (d): Work of construction of Road Over Bridge (ROB) in lieu of Level Crossing (LC) No.20/B/T between Hazaribagh Road - Keshwari Railway  Stations  in  East  Central  Railway  was  sanctioned  on  cost sharing  basis  at  a  total  cost  of ₹ 19.33  crores  (Railways'  share  as ₹ 7.92  crores  and  State  Government's  share  as ₹ 11.41  crores). Tender for design of structure has been finalised.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2938 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: White Paper on Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: S. RAJENDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2938 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## WHITE PAPER ON RAILWAYS

2938. SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has released 'white paper' on Railways in the last two years; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): White paper on Railways was presented by Minister of Railways in the Budget Session of Parliament in February 2015.

*******
Lok Sabha Question No. 2937 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: DDA Housing Scheme
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRRON KHER, SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH, RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

O.I.H.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2937

## TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 03, 2016

## DDA HOUSING SCHEME

No. 2937 SHRIMATI  KIRRON KHER: SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH: SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

Will  the  Minister  OF  URBAN  DEVELOPMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether a large number of people had surrendered the flats  allotted  under  the  Delhi  Development  Authority (DDA)  housing  scheme  2014  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) proposes to launch a new housing scheme and also to
- raise registration amount;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  it  is
- likely to be launched;
- (d) the number of flats likely to be constructed under the
- scheme, location and category-wise;
- (e) whether  any  preference  is  likely  to  be  given  to  local residents  particularly  to  the  person  who  have  no property anywhere including in Delhi; and
- (f) if  so,  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  make the scheme attractive for customers and also to check poor quality work and design of houses?

Cont….

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) : Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has informed that out of 25,039  flats  in  the  Housing  Scheme  2014,  10,653  flats  have been  surrendered/  cancelled.  Most  of  the  allottees  have  cited no reason for surrender but some of them have pointed that size and locality is not meeting their requirements. (b) to    (f):  DDA  has  informed  that  it  is  planning  to  allot  the surrendered  flats  along  with  other  available/vacant  flats  by launching new housing scheme with modified terms & conditions. DDA has further informed that there is no provision for preferential allotment. However, as per DDA (Management & Disposal  of  Housing  Estate)  Regulations,  1968,  only  a  person who or his wife/husband or any of his/her dependent relations including  unmarried  children  do  not  own  in  full  or  in  part  on freehold  or  lease  hold  basis  a  residential  plot  or  house  in  the Urban area of Delhi, New Delhi or Delhi Cantonment, can apply for allotment of a flat/unit.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2936 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Revenue Losses in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: K. GOPAL

(a)

(b)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2936 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## REVENUE LOSSES IN RAILWAYS

2936.  DR. K. GOPAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways has incurred a loss of Rs. 34,030 crore on coaching services  including suburban and non-suburban passenger traffic, luggage and parcel and if  so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether the Railways has spent Rs.76 crore for carrying essential commodities such as fruits and vegetables at below cost in a bid to contain their prices and if so, the reaction of the Railways thereto?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN )

(a) & (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

******

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  &  (b)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2936 BY DR. K. GOPAL TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.08.2016  REGARDING  REVENUE LOSSES IN RAILWAYS

(a): Yes, Madam. Indian Railways has estimated a loss of around 34,030 crore in the year 2015-16 on coaching services. The details are as under:

|   S. No. | Particulars                                                          | 2015-16 (Estimated in crore)   |
|----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | Suburban Services                                                    | 5,304                          |
|        2 | Non-Suburban Services (including luggage, parcel, postal & catering) | 28,727                         |
|        3 | Total Coaching Services                                              | 34,031                         |

(b): Losses on the movement of essential commodities carried at concessional rates in order to contain their market prices have been assessed at 76 crore in 2015-16 (Revised Estimate). These losses are incurred by Railways in the larger interest of the society.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2935 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: New Alternative to TDSAT
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: PRALHAD VENKATESH JOSHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2935 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2016

## NEW ALTERNATIVE TO TDSAT

2935. SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI: Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Ministry plans to set up an alternate system for dispute settlement in the telecommunication sector in the light of the overwhelming cases that Telecom Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal has to deal with; (b) if so, the details thereof; (c) whether  the  new  mechanism  also  propose  to  deal  with  broadcasting  cases; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) to (d) Does not arise in view of (a) above.

*******************
Lok Sabha Question No. 2933 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Survey Work of New Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: BODH SINGH BHAGAT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2933 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## SURVEY WORK OF NEW RAILWAY LINE

†2933. SHRI BODHSINGH BHAGAT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  survey work  of new  railway  line  from  Lamta  to Malanjkhand,  Hatta  to  Lanji  Aamgaon  and  Barghat  to  Katangi  has been sanctioned;
- (b) if  so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the time by which funds for these new railway lines will be allocated in the budget?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

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

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2933 BY SHRI BODHSINGH BHAGAT TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.08.2016 REGARDING SURVEY WORK OF NEW RAILWAY LINE.

- (a) Survey  for  Lamta  to  Malanjkhand,  Hatta-Kiranpur-Lanji  and  Barghat to Katangi was sanctioned and completed in 2012-13.
- (b) The details of the surveys of the said three projects are as under:

|   S.No. | Name of the survey                                |   Cost assessed ( ` Crores) | Rate of Return   |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------|
|       1 | Lamta to Malanjkhand (2012-13)                    |                      540.79 | (-) 7.35%        |
|       2 | Hatta to Lanji (Hatta-Kiranapur- Lanji) (2012-13) |                     3724.47 | (-) 5%           |
|       3 | Bharghat to Katangi                               |                      611.23 | (-) 23%          |

However,  above  projects  could  not  be  taken  forward  due  to  huge throwforward of ongoing projects and being unremunerative.

- (c) As none of the projects was taken up in Rail Budget, the question of fund allocation does not arise.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2932 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Summoning of Indian High Commissioner
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2932 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## SUMMONING OF INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER

† 2932. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  expression  of  sorrow  by  the  Pakistani  Prime Minister over the killing of the Kashmiri terrorist Bhurhan Wani by  the  Indian  soldiers  amounts  to  categorical  support  to terrorism;
- (b)
- if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether  Pakistan  expressed  its  protest  over  the  killing  by summoning the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan; and
- (d) if so, the details and facts in this regard and the steps taken by India in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V.K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) India  has  strongly  rejected  all  attempts  by  Pakistan  to interfere in its internal matters. Government  has  stated that Pakistan's recent official statements of glorification and support to the  terrorist,  who  was  a  'commander'  in  the  banned  terrorist organisation  Hizb  ul  Mujahideen  and  carried  an  amount  of  Rs  10 lakhs on his head on account of heinous crimes, including murder of elected representatives of local bodies and security forces/personnel, reflect Pakistan's continued attachment to terrorism and its usage as an instrument of state policy.
- (c) & (d) On  11  July  2016,  Foreign  Secretary  of  Pakistan  met Indian  High  Commissioner  in  Islamabad  and  protested  the  alleged killings of innocent people in Kashmir. High Commissioner rejected the Pakistani demarche.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2931 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Agreement with Maldives
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2931 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2016

## AGREEMENT WITH MALDIVES

## 2931. SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has entered into any pact or agreement with Maldives recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  Maldives  entering  a  pact  with  China  or  US  would  challenge India's strategic interests; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) Yes.    During  the  visit  of  the  President  of  Maldives  H.E.  Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to India on April 11, 2016, the following 6 documents were signed:
- i. Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation of Income  derived from International Air Transport
- ii. Agreement for the Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes
- iii. MoU for Cooperation in the area of conservation and restoration of ancient  mosques  and  joint  research  and  exploratory  surveys  in Maldives
- iv. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Tourism
- v. Bilateral  Agreement  related  to  Orbit  Frequency  Coordination  of 'South Asia Satellite' proposed at 480E
- vi. Action Plan for Defence Cooperation
- (c) & (d) India's  relations  with  Maldives  are  long  standing  and  based  on mutual  interest. In furthering these  ties,  Government  remains  alert  to developments  having  a  bearing  on  India's  interests  and  takes  all  measures necessary.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 2930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Real Estate Projects by Metro Rail
Ministry: URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED, GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2930 TO BE ANSWERED ON AUGUST 3, 2016 REAL ESTATE PROJECTS BY METRO RAIL

No.2930 SHRI SULTAN AHMED: DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of URBAN DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Delhi  Metro  Rail  Corporation  (DMRC)  proposes  to
- launch a housing scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be launched;
- (c) the number of flats likely to be constructed under the scheme, location and category-wise;
- (d) the details of funds likely to be incurred on the scheme and the expected cost per flat; and
- (e) the time by which these flats are likely to be completed and the criteria likely to be followed for allotment of these flats?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

( RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to (e): Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) has informed that they are constructing 94 residential flats of

Economically Weaker Section (EWS), 1 BHK and 2 BHK categories at an estimated construction cost of Rs. 40 crore excluding land cost  at  Okhla  Phase  III.    The  approximate  construction  cost (excluding land cost) of EWS flat of 26 sq. m., 1 BHK flat (38 to 49 sq.m.) and 2 BHK flat (100-110 sq.m.) is Rs. 15 lakhs, Rs. 30 lakhs and Rs. 60 lakhs per flat respectively.   The construction of these flats  is  proposed  to  be  completed  by  September,  2018.    The allotment  of  flats  shall  be  based  on  applications  received  from public.  Criteria for allotment is yet to be finalized. x-x-x-x-x
Lok Sabha Question No. 2928 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-03
Subject: Bharat Net Project
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: RAMCHARAN BOHARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2928 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  AUGUST, 2016 BHARAT NET PROJECT

†2928. SHRI RAM CHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is considering to encourage States for State Specific Model for Bharat Net;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is considering to grant funds to the State Governments for implementing the above project;
- (d) if  so,  the details thereof along with the proposal received along with Detailed Project  Report  (DPR)  from  State  Governments  in  this  regard,  State-wise  including Rajasthan; and
- (e) the follow up action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) & (b) The Committee constituted by the Government, on 14th January, 2015, to  review  the  strategy  and  approach  towards  speedy  implementation  of  National Optical  Fibre  Network  (renamed  as  BharatNet),  had,  inter-alia,  recommended  for involvement of States through  State led model of implementation of BharatNet.

Telecom Commission has, on 30 th April, 2016, approved a revised three phase implementation strategy of BharatNet. Under first phase of the project, 1 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) is to be connected by laying underground OFC by March 2017. Under second phase, connectivity will be provided to remaining 1.5 lakh GPs in the country using an optimal mix of underground fibre, fibre over power lines, radio and satellite media, by December, 2018. A state- of- the-art future-proof network, including fibre  between  districts  and  blocks  and  5G  services  and  Internet  of  Things  era  with underground OFC in ring architecture, is planned to be completed by 2023 under third phase.

- (c) Laying  of  optical  fibre  cable  (OFC)  on  power  lines  is  to  be  implemented  by State Governments through power distribution companies or any other agency. The Government of India, through Universal service Obligation Fund (USOF), is providing funds to States for Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of the electricity poles. Once the mapping is completed, assessment of OFC to be laid on electricity poles and modality of implementation of laying aerial OFC will be finalised.
- (d) & (e) State  Governments  of  Andhra  Pradesh,  Tamil  Nadu  and  Rajasthan have submitted their Detailed Project Report (DPR) for laying of Optical Fibre Network in the respective States. No final decision on the proposals has, however, been taken.

***********