Centre approves Rs 2,432 crore support for Amended BharatNet rollout in Andhra Pradesh
New Delhi, May 13
In a major push to strengthen rural digital infrastructure and expand broadband connectivity across Andhra Pradesh, the Centre on Wednesday approved financial support of Rs 2,432 crore for implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme in the state.
The agreement was signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (APBIL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Limited (APSFL).
According to the government, the agreement marks a significant milestone towards expeditious implementation of the programme and reflects the shared commitment of the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government to strengthen rural digital infrastructure, improve last-mile connectivity and promote inclusive digital growth.
The Union Cabinet had approved the Amended BharatNet Programme on August 4, 2023, with the objective of upgrading, consolidating and expanding the existing BharatNet network to provide robust and future-ready broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats and villages on a demand basis.
Under the programme in Andhra Pradesh, APBIL will implement the project covering a total of 13,426 Gram Panchayats. This includes upgrading 1,692 Phase-I Gram Panchayats from linear to ring topology to improve network resilience, covering 11,254 Phase-II Gram Panchayats, and bringing 480 newly created Gram Panchayats under the network.
In addition, connectivity will be extended to 3,942 villages on a demand basis to further strengthen last-mile broadband access in rural and remote regions.
The Centre has approved financial support of Rs 2,432 crore for implementation of the programme in the state. The initiative is expected to facilitate more than five lakh rural home fibre connections with government support and significantly improve access to digital services such as e-governance, online education, telemedicine, digital payments and other citizen-centric services.
Officials said the agreement is expected to accelerate execution of the Amended BharatNet Programme in Andhra Pradesh and further advance the vision of a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a student from a village in Guntur district, I can't stress enough how important this is. Online classes and digital resources can transform rural education. Hope the 5 lakh home connections reach those who need them most. 📚💻
Rs 2,432 crore is a huge amount, but digital connectivity in rural areas is non-negotiable in 2025. If this helps farmers access MSP information, weather alerts, and digital payment channels, it's money well spent. My only worry is how local bodies and BSNL will maintain the infrastructure after rollout. Accountability matters.
Impressive scale—13,426 Gram Panchayats and moving from linear to ring topology for resilience. That's a serious infrastructure upgrade. I work in telecom and can appreciate the technical challenge. Hope they also focus on cybersecurity training for rural users once connectivity is live. The 'digital divide' is real and this is a step in the right direction.
I'm from a remote village in Rayalaseema and we still struggle with basic 4G. This BharatNet expansion sounds promising, but what about maintenance? Our BSNL tower has been down for months. 😞 Infrastructure alone won't suffice till upkeep improves.
Happy to see the Centre and State working together on this. Telemedicine can be a game-changer for elderly patients in villages who cannot travel to cities. And e-governance services will reduce middlemen corruption. But the real test is—will the Gram Panchayats actually get speeds promised? Let's hope for transparent monitoring. 😊
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