Centre allots 1,230 cr for village broadband link

The Union Cabinet had earlier on July 20 gave its nod to the second phase of BharatNet broadband programme to connect all 2,50,000 gram panchayats in the country. 

A tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed by the Union Telecom department, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and the state government and was exchanged in the presence of Palaniswami on April 25. “The DPR, which was prepared in line with the MoU by Arasu Cable, was submitted to the Centre on August 31,” Palaniswami said. 

The late CM J Jayalalithaa had in September 2015 announced under Rule 110 in the Assembly that the government would implement BharatNet in Tamil Nadu, connecting 12,524 village panchayats to provide various government services through Internet. 

Quoting Jaya, the release said that the project’s total outlay in the state was Rs 3,000 crore with the assistance from the Centre. The Centre had also conceded her demand making the state as the implementing agency for the rural broadband scheme, while it had also opened the implementation avenue for other states, public sectors as well as private companies. 

She had also announced setting up of the Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation for implementing the Centre’s rural broadband connectivity scheme. A government order for instituting the Corporation had been issued last year, and efforts are under way to set up the same. The state had also allocated Rs 50 lakh as its share capital in this regard. 

The project once implemented would enable effective and faster implementation of various mission mode e-governance projects of the Union government and state governments.