Punjab Becomes First State to Fully Implement Amended BharatNet Scheme
Punjab Becomes First State to Fully Implement Amended BharatNet Scheme
Punjab has achieved a major technological milestone by becoming the first state in India to fully implement the amended BharatNet Scheme across its entire territory, according to a press release issued by the Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab.
“The award duly amplifies the strides made by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann–led Punjab Government in the technology sphere,” the release stated.
Chief Secretary, Punjab, KAP Sinha received the award from CGM, BSNL Punjab Circle, Ajay Kumar Kararha, at a ceremony held in Chandigarh.
Terming the recognition as a testament to Punjab’s expanding presence on India’s technological map, the Chief Secretary said that internet and broadband services have been extended to 43 shadow areas in the state, with only one village remaining. “By the end of November, every village in Punjab will be brought under the ambit of the scheme,” he added.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that this novel initiative would usher in a broadband revolution in rural areas, facilitating efficient governance and digital inclusion. “Now, villages will become part of one big digital family with easy access to various government services,” he further said.
Notably, the BharatNet Scheme aims to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats, households, and institutions across the country. It also envisions the delivery of e-health, e-education, and e-governance services in rural areas.
The Chief General Manager (CGM), BSNL Punjab Circle, informed the Chief Secretary that under the Amended BharatNet Project, BSNL Punjab has become the first circle in India where the State Network Operations Centre (S-NOC) is functional, allowing live monitoring from any location in the country.
Punjab initiated the rollout of the Amended BharatNet Project from the Harsha Chhina Block of Amritsar. With the active support and coordination of various state government agencies and district-level officers, 1,000 km of HDD and around 400 km of OFC cable have already been laid across 22 blocks of Punjab. This progress was made possible through a coordination meeting held in June 2025, jointly chaired by the Chief Secretary, Punjab, and the Secretary, Telecom, Government of India.
The Chief Secretary was also requested to consider BSNL on a nomination basis for various state government projects under the State Disaster Management Programme.
The CGM further apprised the Chief Secretary that village Ramkalwan, one of the remotest border villages near the Indo-Pak border in Pathankot district, has been provided Wi-Fi connectivity by BSNL under the Vidya Mitram Scheme. The Sarpanch of the village had approached BSNL for Wi-Fi connectivity, and the request was successfully fulfilled. The CGMT also urged the Chief Secretary to encourage Panchayats across Punjab to extend similar support for rural digital initiatives.
BharatNet a rural telecom projects, was earlier approved by Union Cabinet on 25.10.2011.
Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) was Approved in August 2023. the ABP is a design improvement aiming for Optical Fibre (OF) connectivity to 2.64 lakh GPs in ring topology (a network design where connected devices form a circular data channel) and OF connectivity to the remaining non-GP villages on demand.
It includes features like IP-MPLS (Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching) network with routers at Blocks and GPs, operation and maintenance for 10 years, power backup, and Remote Fibre Monitoring System (RFMS). The cost allocated is Rs. 1,39,579 crores.
