BharatNet project gains momentum in UP, 46,729 Gram Panchayats in UP now connected to Internet

Lucknow : The Yogi government has made the BharatNet project a top priority to fulfill the vision of Digital India in Uttar Pradesh. This ambitious initiative aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity to rural and remote areas, making them digitally empowered.

Through the BharatNet project, 46,729 Gram Panchayats in the state have been connected to the Internet so far. It is working on connecting gram panchayats to the internet in phases. The goal is to connect all 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats across the country. By the end of October this year, over 2.14 lakh gram panchayats have been connected under the first and second phases of the project. While the project has made significant progress, some challenges are still being addressed.

In Uttar Pradesh, 46,729 Gram Panchayats have been connected to the BharatNet project through optical fiber cables or satellite links by October 2024. In Maharashtra, 24,575, Madhya Pradesh 17,850, Gujarat 14,316, Andhra Pradesh 12,955, and Punjab 12,668 Gram Panchayats have been connected under the BharatNet project.

The success of the 4G saturation project depends heavily on electricity connections. In eastern and western Uttar Pradesh, land acquisition has been completed at 90 out of 132 sites, and power connections have been provided at 39 of these sites. In western UP, 21 out of 42 sites have received connections. However, 22 sites in UP have been marked as “Technically Not Feasible” (TNF), most of which are in dense forest areas. The Yogi government has instructed the energy department to quickly connect the remaining sites and find alternative solutions for areas facing technical issues. The target is to add 8,568 new FTTH (Fiber to the Home) connections by December 2024.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed various departments to enhance coordination and address issues related to the Digital UP vision. The Yogi government has decided to assign the responsibility of overseeing and ensuring the proper use of BharatNet equipment to Gram Vikas Adhikaris-Panchayat Secretaries. To ensure proper monitoring at the district level, a responsible officer (custodian) will be appointed at the Gram Panchayat level.

Additionally, the government has instructed the swift restoration of fiber cables that have been damaged due to the “Har Ghar Jal Yojana,” road widening, and other construction works. The Forest Department has been asked to expedite action on pending land allocations, while the Energy Department has been directed to accelerate the process of providing power connections and find solutions for challenging locations.

Notably, the BharatNet project is not only providing high-speed internet to remote and rural areas across the country but is also becoming a key tool in driving education, healthcare, e-governance, and economic development in rural regions. Once completed, this project will allow villagers to access digital services, marking a significant step towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).

Under the leadership of CM Yogi, Uttar Pradesh is making significant strides towards a digital revolution through the BharatNet project. The initiative to bring internet connectivity to every village will take the state to new heights in digital empowerment.