Parliament Question: BharatNet connectivity in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4229 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH MARCH, 2026 BHARATNET CONNECTIVITY IN TAMIL NADU

4229. SHRI MANI A:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has expanded the scope of the BharatNet programme to connect all inhabited villages in the country with an outlay of Rs.1.88 lakh crore to ensure universal broadband connectivity;

(b) if so, the number of inhabited villages identified, connected and pending under BharatNet in Tamil Nadu, particularly Dharmapuri district;

(c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of BharatNet connectivity in the district on access to digital services such as education, healthcare, banking and e-Governance;

(d) whether any delays, last-mile connectivity issues or operational challenges have been reported in Dharmapuri district; and

(e) if so, the steps being taken to expedite implementation, ensure service quality and make broadband connectivity effectively available to all villages in Dharmapuri district? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)

(a) BharatNet project is being implemented in a phased manner to create network to connect all the Gram Panchayats (GPs)/ Villages in the country. Amended BharatNet program (ABP) is proposed to be implemented in the country to provide connectivity to all GPs and villages (demand basis).

(b) BharatNet in Tamil Nadu is being implemented under the State-led model, wherein project execution, operation & maintenance, and utilization are the responsibility of the State Government.

Out of a total of 12,525 Gram Panchayats (GPs) covered under BharatNet Phase-II, 10,886 GPs are service-ready in Tamil Nadu as on 28.02.2026. Further, out of 251 GPs, 221 GPs have been made service ready in Dharmapuri District.

Under the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP), 4,767 villages are proposed to be connected for last-mile connectivity on a demand basis in Tamil Nadu, including Dharmapuri district.

(c) As on 12.03.2026, 8341 FTTH connections have been provided to Govt. Institutions in Tamil Nadu (including Dharampuri District) using BharatNet. FTTH connectivity enables access to digital services such as e-health, e-education, e-banking, e-governance.

1(d) & (e) Challenges like Right of way issues, involvement of multiple agencies, damage of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) due to development works etc. have been faced in the implementation of BharatNet in Tamil Nadu, including Dharmapuri district. All these challenges are being addressed with planning and co-ordination with concerned agencies. Further, TANFINET, the State Implementing Agency (SIA), is in the process of providing internet connectivity through the BharatNet project to ensure availability of broadband connectivity to villages in Tamil Nadu including Dharmapuri District.

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