New Delhi, 06 November (H.S.): The Centre has approved financial assistance of Rs. 3,189 crore for the implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in Telangana. The initiative aims to strengthen and upgrade the rural telecommunications infrastructure across 12,769 gram panchayats in the state. It also envisages providing fibre connections to around three lakh rural households with the support of subsidies.

An agreement to this effect was signed on Friday at Sanchar Bhawan in New Delhi among the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), under the Department of Telecommunications; the Telangana Government; Telangana Rural Internet Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TRIICL); Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL); and Telangana Fiber Grid Corporation Limited (T-Fiber). The programme will be implemented through TRIICL under a state-led model.

Under the project, the network in 1,946 gram panchayats covered under Phase I will be upgraded from a linear to a ring topology. A further 10,787 gram panchayats covered under Phase II will also be included. In addition, 36 newly constituted gram panchayats will be brought within the programme's ambit.

According to the government, the project will improve access to e-governance, online education, telemedicine, digital payments and citizen-centric services in rural and remote areas.

It may be noted that the Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Programme on August 4, 2023. The initiative aims to upgrade, integrate and expand the existing BharatNet network to provide robust broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats and, on a demand basis, to villages across the country.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar