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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3123
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11TH MARCH, 2026
NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION IN WEST BENGAL
3123. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is implementing the National Broadband Mission (NBM) with the
objective of expanding high-speed internet and digital infrastructure across the country particularly
in rural and remote areas of West Bengal including Bankura district;
(b) if so, the details of the progress made under the NBM in West Bengal especially in Bishnupur
Lok Sabha Constituency;
(c) whether any timelines have been set for universal broadband coverage in all villages and
hamlets of Bankura under the NBM and if so, the expected date of completion; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government to bridge the digital divide in backward and tribal blocks
of Bankura including the provision of affordable internet, digital devices and localised digital
content?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a), (b) & (d) Yes Sir. The Government has taken the following key measures to fast-track the rapid
expansion of digital communications infrastructure, bridge the digital and socio-economic divide,
ensuring high-speed broadband and meaningful connectivity for all across the country, including
rural and remote areas of West Bengal including Bankura district.
i. Launched the centralized Right of Way (RoW) portal on May 14, 2022, thus facilitating
the streamlining of the RoW permissions for the deployment of telecom infrastructure
viz. optical fiber cable (OFC) laying and telecom tower installation.
ii. Process to obtain RoW permissions and applicable charges was further made uniform
through Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024 (RoW Rules 2024) under ‘The
Telecommunications Act, 2023’. The rules are effective from January 01, 2025. The rules
are further streamlining and expediting the telecom infrastructure deployment in the
country.
The centralized RoW portal has been further upgraded in majority of States and UTs in
accordance with the central RoW Rules, 2024. Most States and UTs have issued orders/notifications
directing the concerned departments and local bodies to follow the central RoW Rules, 2024. A few
States have yet to issue such orders, including West Bengal. The Government has also requested the
1State of West Bengal multiple times to issue the necessary orders/notifications and upgrade its RoW
portal in line with the central RoW Rules, 2024.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is further ensuring stable broadband
connectivity in rural & remote areas (including backward and tribal blocks) and bridging the digital
divide through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN). Key initiatives include:
i. The BharatNet project for providing broadband to Gram Panchayats (GPs) and
villages (on demand).
ii. Various schemes for high-speed internet/broadband and mobile services (including
4G) in remote areas, such as the North-East, Islands, LWE (Left-Wing Extremism)-
affected regions, Aspirational Districts, and border villages.
On 4.8.2023, the Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) for up-
gradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, creation of network in balance GPs,
operation and maintenance for 10 years and utilization. The connectivity to remaining non-GP
villages is proposed to be provided on demand basis from their respective GPs.
In West Bengal, a total of 2,677 GPs out of 3,340 have been made service-ready. Further,
663 GPs are planned under ABP. In Bankura district, all 190 GPs are made service ready. 37 GPs
of Bishnupur Lok Sabha Constituency have been made service ready under BharatNet project.
Under the LWE-I (Left-Wing Extremism) scheme, mobile towers are functional at five
locations of Bankura in West Bengal.
(c) In Bankura district, all 190 GPs have been made service ready.
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