Parliament Question: Performance of National Broadband Mission

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5482 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25TH MARCH, 2026 PERFORMANCE OF NATIONAL BROADBAND MISSION 5482. SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE: Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware that despite the objectives of the National Broadband Mission (NBM) to ensure high-speed broadband and meaningful digital connectivity for all, large parts of tribal-dominated regions of Maharashtra—including districts such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Palghar, Melghat (Amravati) and parts of Nashik—continue to face poor network coverage, unreliable internet services and limited optical fibre connectivity and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has conducted any district-wise or block-level assessment of broadband penetration, mobile tower density and fibre rollout in tribal areas of Maharashtra and if so, the details thereof; (c) the reasons for persistent delays and under-performance of NBM targets in these regions despite repeated policy announcements; (d) whether the lack of reliable connectivity has adversely affected education, healthcare delivery, DBT transfers, e-governance and livelihood opportunities for tribal communities; and (e) the time-bound corrective measures proposed to ensure equitable digital inclusion of tribal areas in Maharashtra? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a), (c) & (d) 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 Maharashtra. 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 fibre cable (OFC) laying and telecom tower installation. ii. Process to obtain RoW permissions and applicable charges were 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 RoW portal has been further upgraded in the majority of States and UTs in accordance with the central RoW Rules, 2024 including the State of Maharashtra. 1The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is further ensuring stable broadband connectivity in rural & remote areas (including tribal-dominated regions) 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 Maharashtra, a total of 24,575 GPs out of 27,939 have been made service-ready. In tribal- dominated districts of Maharashtra such as Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Palghar, Amravati and Nashik, a total of 3,279 GPs out of 3,762 have been made service-ready under BharatNet project. The District- wise details are at Annexure-I. The mobile coverage status and mobile internet connectivity (3G/4G/5G) in 12 tribal- dominated districts (as per Registrar General of India) in Maharashtra, as on 28.02.2026, are at Annexure-II. (b) No sir. However, in the 12 tribal-dominated districts in Maharashtra, a total of 15,730 villages out of 16,200 villages are covered with mobile connectivity, including 15,628 villages having (3G/4G/5G) mobile internet connectivity. (e) In 12 tribal-dominated districts in Maharashtra, 96.46% villages have access to internet. 2Annexure-I Annexure referred to in Part (a), (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5482 for Answer on 25.03.2026. S. No Name of State District Name No. of GPs No. of GPs service planned ready 1 Gadchiroli 461 341 2 Nandurbar 596 590 3 Maharashtra Palghar 475 460 4 Amravati 840 836 5 Nashik 1,390 1,052 Total 3,762 3,279 3Annexure-II Annexure referred to in Part (a), (c) & (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5482 for Answer on 25.03.2026. Internet Name of Covered coverage tribal- Total S. No Name of State (2G/3G/4 Uncovered (3G/4G/5G dominated village G/ 5G) mobile network District connectivity) 1 Amravati 1,981 1,872 109 1,867 2 Bhandara 885 870 15 866 3 Chandrapur 1,775 1,742 33 1,736 4 Dhule 720 714 6 713 5 Gadchiroli 1,646 1,520 126 1,477 6 Gondiya 934 902 32 899 Maharashtra 7 Jalgaon 1,524 1,508 16 1,507 8 Nandurbar 960 905 55 903 9 Nashik 1,928 1,891 37 1,889 10 Palghar 904 899 5 899 11 Thane 816 806 10 806 12 Yavatmal 2,127 2,101 26 2,066 Total 16,200 15,730 470 15,628 ***** 4