Centre Approves ₹1,684 Crore for Amended BharatNet Expansion in Jharkhand

In a major initiative to bridge the digital divide in eastern India, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) signed a tri-partite implementation agreement approving ₹1,684 crore for the rollout of the Amended BharatNet Programme (Phase III) in Jharkhand. The pact was signed at Sanchar Bhawan in New Delhi between DBN, the Government of Jharkhand, Jharkhand Digital Infrastructure Corporation Limited (JDICL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), and Jharkhand Communication Network Limited (JCNL). Under the state-led execution model, JDICL will function as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to build and operate the high-speed optical fiber network, while BSNL will serve as the primary Project Management Consultant. The program encompasses upgrading 4,387 existing Gram Panchayats from linear network architecture to a fault-tolerant ring topology, guaranteeing uninterrupted service during cable cuts or physical disruptions. Furthermore, eight newly formed Gram Panchayats will be connected, and on-demand fiber broadband will be extended to 26,777 non-panchayat villages. Over the next five years, the project targets delivering 4.39 lakh Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband connections, providing crucial digital backbones for e-governance, digital banking, telemedicine, and online education. Officials emphasized that robust rural connectivity will enhance economic productivity and foster digital entrepreneurship in remote tribal belts and rural areas.