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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 156
ANSWERED ON 29TH JULY, 2026
PROJECTS SANCTIONED UNDER DIGITAL BHARAT NIDHI IN TAMIL NADU
*156. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of projects sanctioned under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) in Tamil Nadu since
its inception including the number of mobile towers approved, installed and made operational,
district-wise including Arani Lok Sabha Constituency of Tamil Nadu;
(b) the total funds allocated, released and utilised under DBN for improving mobile and
broadband connectivity in Tamil Nadu during the last five years, year-wise;
(c) whether any rural, remote and tribal habitations in Tamil Nadu continue to remain without
reliable 4G mobile connectivity despite the implementation of DBN projects and if so, the details
thereof, district-wise;
(d) whether the Government has received any proposals from the Government of Tamil Nadu for
additional DBN-supported telecom infrastructure projects and if so, the details and present status of
such proposals; and
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to accelerate the implementation of DBN
projects in Tamil Nadu and the timeline for ensuring universal mobile connectivity in the State?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN
REGION
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS
(a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 156 FOR 29TH JULY, 2026
REGARDING “PROJECTS SANCTIONED UNDER DIGITAL BHARAT NIDHI IN TAMIL
NADU” ASKED BY SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S.
(a) & (b) 4G Saturation Scheme and the BharatNet Project, including the Amended BharatNet
Programme, have been sanctioned for the State of Tamil Nadu from Digital Bharat Nidhi. Details of
number of mobile towers planned and commissioned, district-wise of the State of Tamil Nadu are at
Annexure I. ₹1,363.39 crore have been disbursed from Digital Bharat Nidhi for improving mobile
and broadband connectivity in the State of Tamil Nadu during the last five financial years. Financial
year-wise details are as under:
Fund disbursed
Financial year
(in crore ₹)
2021-22 74.21
2022-23 103.72
2023-24 573.40
2024-25 336.82
2025-26 275.23
Total 1,363.39
(c) As per data maintained by the Registrar General of India, there are 16,488 villages in the
State of Tamil Nadu and 16,447 villages are having 4G connectivity. District-wise details are at
Annexure II.
(d) The BharatNet Project has been approved for provision for broadband connectivity in a
phased manner to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country, including in the State of Tamil Nadu.
Further, the Government has approved the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) under a design,
built, operate and maintain model for upgrade of existing network created under Phases I and II of
the BharatNet Project and to create incremental network for new GPs, and for non-GP villages on
demand basis, its operation and maintenance and provision of 1.5 crore fibre-based internet
connections. The Government of India has approved the proposal of the Government of Tamil Nadu
for utilisation of BharatNet network under Amended BharatNet Programme in the State and has
shared the agreement for the same with the State Government.
(e) As on 30.6.2026, 11,118 GPs had been connected in the State of Tamil Nadu under
BharatNet Project. Further, the 4G Saturation Project has been approved for provision of 4G mobile
services in uncovered villages located in remote and difficult areas of the country, including in the
State of Tamil Nadu. As on 30.6.2026, 257 mobile towers have been commissioned in the State of
Tamil Nadu, covering 308 villages.
2Annexure I
Annex referred to in the reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *156, to
be answered on 29th July, 2026
District-wise details of mobile towers planned and commissioned under Digital Bharat Nidhi
in the State of Tamil Nadu
S. Towers Towers Villages Villages
District
No. planned commissioned planned covered
1 Chengalpattu 1 0 1 0
2 Coimbatore 9 2 20 4
3 Dharmapuri 14 11 22 19
4 Dindigul 39 12 43 13
5 Erode 15 9 15 9
6 Kallakurichi 34 32 35 33
7 Kancheepuram 15 0 15 0
8 Kanyakumari 17 17 17 17
9 Karur 2 2 2 2
10 Krishnagiri 20 8 22 10
11 Madurai 13 13 14 14
12 Namakkal 32 26 35 27
13 Salem 28 28 39 39
14 Sivaganga 5 5 5 5
15 Tenkasi 3 3 3 3
16 Thanjavur 2 2 2 2
17 The Nilgiris 7 4 46 21
18 Theni 4 3 4 3
19 Thiruvallur 23 19 23 19
20 Thoothukkudi 2 2 2 2
21 Tiruchirappalli 7 7 7 7
22 Tirunelveli 8 8 8 8
23 Tirupathur 8 3 13 7
24 Tiruppur 1 1 1 1
25 Tiruvannamalai 28 28 32 31
26 Vellore 12 11 12 11
27 Viluppuram 7 1 7 1
Total 356 257 445 308
3Annexure II
Annex referred to in the reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *156, to be
answered on 29th July, 2026
District-wise details of 4G connectivity in the State of Tamil Nadu
Total number of villages (as Number of villages with
S. No. District
per RGI data of 2019) 4G connectivity
1 Ariyalur 214 214
2 Chengalpattu 601 601
3 Coimbatore 256 254
4 Cuddalore 843 843
5 Dharmapuri 487 478
6 Dindigul 370 370
7 Erode 306 306
8 Kallakurichi 582 577
9 Kancheepuram 436 436
10 Kanniyakumari 115 115
11 Karur 175 175
12 Krishnagiri 661 657
13 Madurai 592 591
14 Nagapattinam 494 494
15 Namakkal 427 427
16 Perambalur 159 159
17 Pudukkottai 756 756
18 Ramanathapuram 398 398
19 Ranipet 316 316
20 Salem 616 609
21 Sivaganga 539 538
22 Tenkasi 229 228
23 Thanjavur 810 810
24 The Nilgiris 41 41
25 Theni 101 99
26 Thiruvallur 716 716
27 Thiruvarur 546 546
28 Thoothukkudi 450 450
29 Tiruchirappalli 469 468
30 Tirunelveli 284 284
31 Tirupathur 226 225
32 Tiruppur 309 308
33 Tiruvannamalai 1110 1107
34 Vellore 340 338
35 Viluppuram 921 920
36 Virudhunagar 593 593
Total 16,488 16,447
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