**Executive Summary**
This document addresses unstarred question number 1930 in Lok Sabha regarding the BharatNet project in Tamil Nadu, to be answered on February 11th, 2026. It provides the current status of the BharatNet project, including the number of Gram Panchayats connected and challenges faced, and outlines the steps taken to improve internet services and bridge the urban-rural divide. The response includes data up to December 31, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Current Status of BharatNet:**
* As of December 31, 2025, a total of 2,14,904 Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country are service-ready under the BharatNet Project (Phase-I and Phase-II).
* This includes 10,869 GPs in Tamil Nadu.
* Phase-II of BharatNet in Tamil Nadu is being implemented by the state government.
* **Challenges in Implementation:**
* Challenges include Right of way issues, involvement of multiple agencies, and damage to Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) due to development works.
* These challenges are being addressed through planning and coordination with concerned agencies.
* **Utilization of BharatNet Infrastructure:**
* The infrastructure can be used to provide broadband services like Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, Wi-Fi Hotspots, leased lines, dark fibre, and backhaul to mobile towers.
* **Last-Mile Connectivity and Affordable Access:**
* Interested households and institutions in rural areas will be provided FTTH connections on demand through the BharatNet Udyami (BNU) model under ABP with funding support from Digital Bharat Nidhi.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Government (Central and State)
**Impact:** Responsible for planning, implementing, and coordinating the BharatNet project, addressing implementation challenges, and ensuring utilization of infrastructure for broadband services.
**Action Required:** Continue planning and coordinating with concerned agencies to address challenges and ensure effective implementation of BharatNet.
**Stakeholder:** Citizens of Tamil Nadu (especially in rural areas)
**Impact:** Potential to gain access to improved and affordable internet services through FTTH connections, Wi-Fi Hotspots, and other broadband services.
**Action Required:** Express demand for FTTH connections through the BharatNet Udyami (BNU) model.
**Stakeholder:** Private Service Providers
**Impact:** Opportunity to utilize BharatNet infrastructure for providing broadband services to rural areas.
**Action Required:** Collaborate with the government to provide broadband services and contribute to bridging the urban-rural divide.
Key Entities Referenced
BharatNet: A project focused on providing broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats in India.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India where the BharatNet project is being implemented.
Ministry of Communications: The ministry responsible for the BharatNet project.
Gram Panchayats: Local self-government organizations at the village level, the target beneficiaries of BharatNet.
Digital Bharat Nidhi: Provides funding support for BharatNet Udyami (BNU) model under ABP.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1930
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH FEBRUARY, 2026
BHARATNET IN TAMIL NADU
1930. SHRI MALAIYARASAN D:
DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the BharatNet project, including the number of Gram Panchayats
connected across the country and State-wise including Tamil Nadu;
(b) the targets set for completion of Phase 2 of BharatNet and the timelines for full coverage of
all Gram Panchayats;
(c) the challenges faced in the implementation of BharatNet in Tamil Nadu and steps taken to
overcome them;
(d) the extent of utilization of BharatNet infrastructure by the Government and private service
providers in Tamil Nadu to provide broadband connectivity;
(e) the measures taken to ensure last-mile connectivity and affordable internet access in rural
areas of Tamil Nadu under this scheme;
(f) the challenges faced in expanding telecommunications infrastructure in rural and remote
areas particularly in Tamil Nadu; and
(g) the steps undertaken by the Government to improve the quality of internet services in rural
regions and to bridge the urban-rural divide?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) & (b) Total number of Gram Panchayats (GPs) made service-ready under BharatNet Project
including Phase-I and Phase-II across the country till 31.12.2025 is 2,14,904, which includes 10,869
GPs of Tamil Nadu. BharatNet Phase-II in Tamil Nadu is being implemented by the state
government. State/UT wise details of number of Gram Panchayats connected under the BharatNet
project is attached as Annexure-I.
(c) to (g) 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 across country including Tamil Nadu. All these challenges are being addressed with
planning and co-ordination with concerned agencies. The infrastructure created under BharatNet can
be utilized to provide broadband services, such as Fibre to the Home (FTTH) connections, Wi-Fi
Hotspots, leased lines, dark fibre, backhaul to mobile towers etc. in rural areas. The interested
households and institutions in rural areas will be provided FTTH connection on demand basis
through BharatNet Udyami (BNU) model under ABP with funding support from Digital Bharat
Nidhi.
1LSPQ No. 1930
Annexure-I
State-wise details of number of Gram Panchayats connected under the BharatNet project (as on
31.12.2025)
S. No. States/UTs No. of GPs made Service Ready
1 Andaman & Nicobar 72
2 Andhra Pradesh 12955
3 Arunachal Pradesh 1124
4 Assam 1507
5 Bihar 8340
6 Chandigarh 12
7 Chhattisgarh 9695
8 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 20
9 Daman & Diu 18
10 Goa 0
11 Gujarat 14320
12 Haryana 6082
13 Himachal Pradesh 410
14 Jammu & Kashmir 1101
15 Jharkhand 4390
16 Karnataka 6084
17 Kerala 978
18 Ladakh 193
19 Lakshadweep 9
20 Madhya Pradesh 17850
21 Maharashtra 24575
22 Manipur 1475
23 Meghalaya 698
24 Mizoram 540
25 Nagaland 236
26 Odisha 6785
27 Puducherry 98
28 Punjab 12668
29 Rajasthan 8776
30 Sikkim 35
31 Tamil Nadu 10869
32 Telangana 10833
33 Tripura 740
34 Uttar Pradesh 46746
35 Uttarakhand 1993
36 West Bengal 2677
Total 214904
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