Question : BharatNet Project in Tamil Nadu

(a) the salient features of the BharatNet Project;

(b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under this project in Tamil Nadu during the last three years;

(c) the details of the targets set and the achievements made so far by the Government under this project in Tamil Nadu;

(d) whether the Government is aware that lack of workers coupled with shortage of funds has slowed down this project in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND
ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) to (e) 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 (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 222 FOR 10TH MARCH, 2021 REGARDING “BHARATNET PROJECT IN TAMIL NADU”.

(a) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (approximately 2.5 lakh) in the country. The infrastructure created under BharatNet project will be a national asset, accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to the Service Providers. It aims to provide affordable broadband services to citizens and institutions in rural and remote areas.
(b) Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), the Executing Agency for BharatNet Project under Department of Telecommunications, has released Rs. 110 crore (approx.) for implementation of the project in Tamil Nadu during the last three years.
(c) to (e) The lack of workers coupled with shortage of funds has not slowed down this project in Tamil Nadu. The State Government has shown keen interest in this project and has envisaged an enhanced architecture for BharatNet network. The Department of Telecommunications is also in active engagement with the State Government for effective project implementation.

The BharatNet project is being implemented in Tamil Nadu by the State Government under 4 Packages (namely A, B, C and D). Letters of Acceptance (LoA) have been issued for all the 4 Packages. However, in a petition filed by a vendor for B package, the petition is allowed with directions to consider the bid, submitted by the vendor, for further evaluation on merits and in accordance with law, as per the directions dated 02.03.2021 of Hon’ble High Court of Madras. The timeline for project completion is 360 days from the date of issuance of Award of Work.
Further, for expediting the implementation of the BharatNet project in Tamil Nadu, Department of Telecommunications and its Agencies have been holding regular meetings with the State Government.


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