Lok Sabha Question No. 1931 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-11
Subject: BharatNet Project in Maharashtra
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Shri Omprakash Bhupalsinh Alias Pavan Rajenimbalkar, Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre, Shri Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1931 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## BHARATNET PROJECT IN MAHARASHTRA

## †1931. SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR: SHRI SANJAY UTTAMRAO DESHMUKH: SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of villages in Maharashtra deprived of 4G and fibre connectivity so far under the BharatNet project along with the reasons for its delay;

- (b) the prescribed timeframe for achieving complete rural broadband connectivity in the country;
- (c) the  progress  made  so  far  under  BharatNet  phase-III  in  Maharashtra  particularly  in  the Washim-Yavatmal region;
- (d) whether special priority is being given to tribal and hilly areas under this project;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) the  current  status  of  the  BharatNet  project  in  the  country  particularly  in  Maharashtra  in Wasim-Yavatmal, Lok Sabha Constituency;

(g) the reasons for slow implementing  on the said project so far as the project was launched in the year, 2011; and

- (h) the names of districts where the implementation of the project is lagging far behind along with the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) BharatNet  project  is  being  implemented  in  a  phased  manner  to  create  network  to connect  all  the  Gram  Panchayats  (GPs)/  Villages  with  broadband  in  the  country  including Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra, out of  27,689 Gram Panchayats (GPs) 24,575 GPs have been made service ready as on  31.12. 2025 under BharatNet. Out of 43,931 villages in the state of Maharashtra, 42,716 villages are covered with 4G mobile connectivity, as of December 2025. Challenges like Right of way issues,  involvement  of  multiple  agencies  etc.  have  been  faced  under  the  implementation  of BharatNet in the state. All these challenges are being addressed with planning and co-ordination with concerned agencies.

Amended BharatNet program (ABP) is proposed to be implemented in the country including Washim-Yavatmal region of Maharashtra. The timeline for completion of the construction phase under  the  ABP  is  three  years  from  the  date  of  signing  of  agreement.  Further,  ABP  to  provide connectivity to around 28,237 GPs and 15,799 Non- Gram Panchayat (GPs) villages on the demand basis for last mile connectivity including tribal and hilly areas in Maharashtra.

(f) to (h) A  total  of  2,14,904  Gram  Panchayats  have  been  made  service-ready  under  the BharatNet Programme across the country till 31.12.2025, including 1,239 Gram Panchayats in the Washim-Yavatmal region of Maharashtra.

BharatNet  project  is  widely  dispersed  across  remotest  corners  of  the  country,  covering difficult terrains  (Hilly/Rocky) and also difficult  to  access Left-Wing extremism (LWE) affected areas. The implementation of BharatNet is impacted in Kolhapur, Nashik, Pune, Ratnagiri, Satara and Thane districts where the implementation of the project is impacted due to challenges like Right of way issues, permission required from multiple agencies, large scale damages to OFC laid due to development works etc.

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