Lok Sabha Question No. 5482 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Performance of National Broadband Mission
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5482 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2026

## PERFORMANCE OF NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION

## 5482.   SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  despite  the  objectives  of  the  National  Broadband Mission (NBM) to ensure high-speed broadband and meaningful digital connectivity for all, large parts of tribal-dominated regions of Maharashtra-including districts such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Palghar,  Melghat  (Amravati)  and  parts  of  Nashik-continue  to  face  poor  network  coverage, unreliable internet services and limited optical fibre connectivity and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  district-wise  or  block-level  assessment  of broadband penetration, mobile tower density and fibre rollout in tribal areas of Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the  reasons for  persistent delays  and  under-performance  of  NBM targets in these regions despite repeated policy announcements;

(d) whether  the  lack  of  reliable  connectivity  has  adversely  affected  education,  healthcare delivery, DBT transfers, e-governance and livelihood opportunities for tribal communities; and

(e) the time-bound corrective measures proposed to ensure equitable digital inclusion of tribal areas in Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a), (c) & (d) The  Government  has  taken  the  following  key  measures  to  fast-track  the  rapid expansion of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital and socio-economic divide, ensuring high-speed broadband and meaningful connectivity for all across the country, including rural and remote areas of Maharashtra.

- i. Launched the centralized Right of Way (RoW) portal on May 14, 2022, thus facilitating the streamlining of the RoW permissions for the deployment of telecom infrastructure viz. optical fibre cable (OFC) laying and telecom tower installation.
- ii. Process  to  obtain  RoW  permissions  and  applicable  charges  were  further  made  uniform through Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024 (RoW Rules 2024) under 'The Telecommunications Act, 2023'. The rules are effective from January 01, 2025. The rules are further streamlining and expediting the telecom infrastructure deployment in the country. The RoW portal has been further upgraded in the majority of States and UTs in accordance with the central RoW Rules, 2024 including the State of Maharashtra.

The  Department  of  Telecommunications  (DoT)  is  further  ensuring  stable  broadband connectivity in rural & remote areas (including tribal-dominated regions) and bridging the digital divide through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN). Key initiatives include:

- i. The BharatNet project for providing broadband to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages (on demand).
- ii. Various schemes for high-speed internet/broadband and mobile services (including 4G) in remote  areas,  such  as  the  North-East,  Islands,  LWE  (Left-Wing  Extremism)-affected regions, Aspirational Districts, and border villages.

On 4.8.2023, the Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) for upgradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in balance GPs, operation  and  maintenance  for  10  years  and  utilization.  The  connectivity  to  remaining  non-GP villages is proposed to be provided on demand basis from their respective GPs.

In Maharashtra, a total of 24,575 GPs out of 27,939 have been made service-ready. In tribaldominated districts of Maharashtra such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Palghar, Amravati and Nashik, a total of 3,279 GPs out of 3,762 have been made service-ready under BharatNet project. The Districtwise details are at Annexure-I .

The  mobile  coverage  status  and  mobile  internet  connectivity  (3G/4G/5G)  in  12  tribaldominated districts  (as  per  Registrar  General  of  India)  in  Maharashtra,  as  on  28.02.2026,  are  at Annexure-II .

(b) No sir. However, in the 12 tribal-dominated districts in Maharashtra, a total of 15,730 villages out  of  16,200  villages  are  covered  with  mobile  connectivity,  including  15,628  villages  having (3G/4G/5G) mobile internet connectivity.

- (e) In 12 tribal-dominated districts in Maharashtra, 96.46% villages have access to internet.

## Annexure referred to in Part (a), (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5482 for Answer on 25.03.2026.

| S. No   | Name of State   | District Name   | No. of GPs planned   | No. of GPs service ready   |
|---------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------------|----------------------------|
| 1       | Maharashtra     | Gadchiroli      | 461                  | 341                        |
| 2       | Maharashtra     | Nandurbar       | 596                  | 590                        |
| 3       | Maharashtra     | Palghar         | 475                  | 460                        |
| 4       | Maharashtra     | Amravati        | 840                  | 836                        |
| 5       | Maharashtra     | Nashik          | 1,390                | 1,052                      |
|         |                 | Total           | 3,762                | 3,279                      |

## Annexure referred to in Part (a), (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5482 for Answer on 25.03.2026.

| S. No   | Name of State   | Name of tribal- dominated District   | Total village   | Covered (2G/3G/4 G/ 5G)   |   Uncovered | Internet coverage (3G/4G/5G mobile network connectivity)   |
|---------|-----------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------|---------------------------|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Maharashtra     | Amravati                             | 1,981           | 1,872                     |         109 | 1,867                                                      |
| 2       | Maharashtra     | Bhandara                             | 885             | 870                       |          15 | 866                                                        |
| 3       | Maharashtra     | Chandrapur                           | 1,775           | 1,742                     |          33 | 1,736                                                      |
| 4       | Maharashtra     | Dhule                                | 720             | 714                       |           6 | 713                                                        |
| 5       | Maharashtra     | Gadchiroli                           | 1,646           | 1,520                     |         126 | 1,477                                                      |
| 6       | Maharashtra     | Gondiya                              | 934             | 902                       |          32 | 899                                                        |
| 7       | Maharashtra     | Jalgaon                              | 1,524           | 1,508                     |          16 | 1,507                                                      |
| 8       | Maharashtra     | Nandurbar                            | 960             | 905                       |          55 | 903                                                        |
| 9       | Maharashtra     | Nashik                               | 1,928           | 1,891                     |          37 | 1,889                                                      |
| 10      | Maharashtra     | Palghar                              | 904             | 899                       |           5 | 899                                                        |
| 11      | Maharashtra     | Thane                                | 816             | 806                       |          10 | 806                                                        |
| 12      | Maharashtra     | Yavatmal                             | 2,127           | 2,101                     |          26 | 2,066                                                      |
|         |                 | Total                                | 16,200          | 15,730                    |         470 | 15,628                                                     |

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