Lok Sabha Question No. 480 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Expansion of Telecom Infrastructure and Improved Broadband and Internet Connectivity in Maharashtra
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Smt. Supriya Sule

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 480 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2026

## EXPANSION OF TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPROVED BROADBAND AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN MAHARASHTRA

## *480.   DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  expansion  of  telecom  infrastructure  and  improved  broadband  and  internet connectivity  under  various  Digital  India  initiatives  have  significantly  accelerated  the  adoption  of digital services across the country including Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of mobile tower density, broadband penetration and fibre connectivity achieved during the last five years in Maharashtra, district-wise particularly in rural, tribal and aspirational districts;
- (c) whether  disparities  persist  in  internet  speed,  service  reliability  and  affordability  between urban centres like Mumbai and semi-urban and rural regions of the State and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has assessed the impact of connectivity gaps on digital payments, online  education,  telemedicine  and  e-governance  services  in  Maharashtra  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e) the  time-bound  steps  proposed  to  strengthen  last-mile  connectivity,  address  network congestion and ensure inclusive digital access across all regions of Maharashtra?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)

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

## STATEMENT  IN  RESPECT  OF  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. 480 FOR 25 TH  MARCH, 2026 REGARDING 'EXPANSION OF TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPROVED BROADBAND AND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN MAHARASHTRA.'

(a) Over  the  last  12  years,  internet  subscribers  have  increased  from  about  26.73  crore  in December 2014 to over 102.86 crore in December 2025, while average data usage per user has increased from 0.09 giga byte (GB) to 25.70 GB per month over the same period. At the same time, the cost per GB has declined significantly from ₹269 to ₹7.87, making data more affordable. This increase  in  access  and affordability  has  led  to  large-scale  adoption  of  digital  services  across  the country, including in the State of Maharashtra. Unified Payment Interface (UPI) recorded 2039.418 crore transactions, amounting to a total value of ₹26.84 lakh crore in February 2026, while direct benefit transfer of ₹6.17 lakh crore was made through 586 crore transactions during the financial year (FY) 2025-26.

(b) to (e) District-wise  details  of  towers,  base  transceiver  stations  and  service-ready  Gram Panchayats  (GPs)  connected  under  the  BharatNet  programme  of  the  Government  and  mobile coverage status in villages in the State of Maharashtra are given in the Annex . Disparities regarding affordability have largely reduced with mobile data costing on the average ₹7.87 per GB across the country.

Though coverage to various locations is provided by Telecom Service Providers based on techno-commercial considerations, the Government, with funding from Digital Bharat Nidhi, has approved  various  schemes  for  expansion  of  telecom  connectivity  through  installation  of  mobile towers  in  rural  and  remote  areas  across  the  country,  including  under  4G  saturation  projects  by installing 34,780 mobile towers covering 46,331 villages and the Amended BharatNet Programme for the provisioning of high-speed broadband to all 2.65 lakh GPs and broadband connectivity on demand basis to the remaining 3.8 lakh non-GP villages with minimum demand for five home fibre internet connections.

Annex  referred  to  in  the  reply  to  part  (b)  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  *480  to  be answered on 25 th  March, 2026, regarding 'Expansion of Telecom Infrastructure and Improved Broadband and Internet Connectivity in Maharashtra'

District-wise details of towers, base transceiver stations and service-ready Gram Panchayats (GPs) connected under the BharatNet programme of the Government and mobile coverage status in villages in the State of Maharashtra, as of February 2026

| Sl. No.   | District                  | Towers   | Base transceiver stations   | Service-ready GPs under BharatNet   | Mobile coverage (villages)   |
|-----------|---------------------------|----------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|
| 1.        | Ahmednagar                | 3,308    | 13,003                      | 987                                 | 1,575                        |
| 2.        | Akola                     | 1,159    | 4,262                       | 490                                 | 963                          |
| 3.        | Amravati                  | 1,908    | 7,018                       | 836                                 | 1,872                        |
| 4.        | Beed                      | 1,696    | 6,434                       | 1,013                               | 1,368                        |
| 5.        | Bhandara                  | 705      | 2,667                       | 535                                 | 870                          |
| 6.        | Buldhana                  | 1,480    | 5,734                       | 720                                 | 1,410                        |
| 7.        | Chandrapur                | 1,368    | 4,831                       | 819                                 | 1,742                        |
| 8.        | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | 2,971    | 11,546                      | 751                                 | 1,355                        |
| 9.        | Dharashiv                 | 1,118    | 4,169                       | 621                                 | 738                          |
| 10.       | Dhule                     | 1,250    | 4,925                       | 539                                 | 714                          |
| 11.       | Gadchiroli                | 1,099    | 2,998                       | 341                                 | 1,520                        |
| 12.       | Gondia                    | 839      | 2,832                       | 553                                 | 902                          |
| 13.       | Hingoli                   | 642      | 2,106                       | 559                                 | 707                          |
| 14.       | Jalgaon                   | 2,448    | 9,548                       | 1,110                               | 1,508                        |
| 15.       | Jalna                     | 1,201    | 4,748                       | 780                                 | 965                          |
| 16.       | Kolhapur                  | 2,548    | 10,450                      | 807                                 | 1,229                        |
| 17.       | Latur                     | 1,597    | 6,084                       | 786                                 | 943                          |
| 18.       | Mumbai                    | 5,033    | 17,336                      | -                                   | -                            |
| 19.       | Mumbai Suburban           | 7,638    | 26,899                      | -                                   | -                            |
| 20.       | Nagpur                    | 4,126    | 15,576                      | 761                                 | 1,862                        |
| 21.       | Nanded                    | 1,842    | 7,004                       | 1,020                               | 1,651                        |
| 22.       | Nandurbar                 | 983      | 3,187                       | 590                                 | 905                          |
| 23.       | Nashik                    | 4,061    | 16,635                      | 1,052                               | 1,891                        |
| 24.       | Palghar                   | 2,397    | 9,342                       | 460                                 | 899                          |
| 25.       | Parbhani                  | 1,034    | 3,867                       | 695                                 | 839                          |
| 26.       | Pune                      | 11,625   | 45,757                      | 1,145                               | 1,836                        |
| 27.       | Raigad                    | 3,012    | 11,344                      | 793                                 | 1,975                        |
| 28.       | Ratnagiri                 | 1,071    | 4,030                       | 486                                 | 1,472                        |
| 29.       | Sangli                    | 1,889    | 7,971                       | 694                                 | 720                          |
| 30.       | Satara                    | 2,016    | 8,649                       | 1,227                               | 1,720                        |
| 31.       | Sindhudurg                | 573      | 2,352                       | 409                                 | 704                          |
| 32.       | Solapur                   | 2,834    | 11,725                      | 812                                 | 1,158                        |
| 33.       | Thane                     | 9,650    | 33,468                      | 68                                  | 806                          |
| 34.       | Wardha                    | 898      | 3,286                       | 507                                 | 1,362                        |
| 35.       | Washim                    | 609      | 2,270                       | 486                                 | 781                          |
| 36.       | Yavatmal                  | 1,723    | 5,796                       | 1,123                               | 2,101                        |
| Total     | Total                     | 90,351   | 3,39,849                    | 24,575                              | 43,063                       |

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