New Delhi: Rural Chhattisgarh is set for a major digital infrastructure expansion after the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications signed an agreement with the Chhattisgarh government and other key agencies for implementing the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in the state.
The programme, being implemented under the State-led model, has received ₹3,942 crore in financial support from the Government of India and aims to strengthen broadband infrastructure across rural and remote areas of Chhattisgarh.
BharatNet to Cover 11,682 Gram Panchayats
The amended programme will cover 11,682 Gram Panchayats across Chhattisgarh, while providing on-demand connectivity to 8,328 villages.
The project will be implemented through Chhattisgarh State BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (CSBIL).
What the Chhattisgarh rollout includes
- 4,048 Phase I Gram Panchayats to be upgraded from linear to ring topology
- 5,964 Phase II Gram Panchayats to be covered
- 1,670 newly created Gram Panchayats to be included
- 8,328 villages to receive connectivity on demand
- More than 3 lakh rural home fibre connections expected to be facilitated
The shift from linear to ring topology in thousands of Gram Panchayats is intended to improve the resilience and reliability of the broadband network.
₹3,942 Crore Centre-Backed Digital Infrastructure Push
The Government of India has approved ₹3,942 crore in financial support for the implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme in Chhattisgarh.
The expanded network is expected to strengthen access to digital services in rural areas, including:
- e-Governance
- Online education
- Telemedicine
- Digital payments
- Other citizen-centric digital services
The initiative is aimed at improving last-mile connectivity and enabling rural communities to participate more effectively in the digital economy.
Five-Way Partnership to Drive Rollout
The agreement brings together the Centre, Chhattisgarh government and public-sector technology and telecom agencies.
The agreement was signed between:
- Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), Department of Telecommunications
- Government of Chhattisgarh
- Chhattisgarh State BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (CSBIL)
- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
- Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS)
The signing ceremony was attended by Shyamal Misra, Administrator, DBN; Ankit Anand, Secretary, Department of Electronics & IT, Chhattisgarh; Mayank Agrawal, Managing Director, CSBIL; Papa Sudhakara Rao, Director (Enterprise Business), BSNL; and Dinesh Kumar Garg, DDG (ABP Implementation-I), DoT.
What Is the Amended BharatNet Programme?
The Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Programme on August 4, 2023, with the objective of upgrading and expanding India’s existing BharatNet infrastructure.
The programme seeks to provide robust and future-ready broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats and villages on demand, with greater emphasis on network resilience and last-mile access.
The Chhattisgarh agreement marks a step towards accelerating implementation of this national programme at the state level.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: Supporting Universal Connectivity
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), formerly known as the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), operates under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
Following the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the USOF was renamed Digital Bharat Nidhi.
Key areas supported by DBN include:
- BharatNet
- 4G Saturation Project
- Mobile services in uncovered areas of Aspirational Districts
- Connectivity in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas
- Mobile services in Himalayan and border regions
- Connectivity in islands and the North Eastern Region
The Chhattisgarh BharatNet project is expected to strengthen rural telecom infrastructure while expanding access to essential digital services and supporting the state’s broader digital development.
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