Punjab achieves the distinction of being the first state in the country to implement the BharatNet scheme

Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu):

Marking another milestone in the field of making the use of communication technology more efficient, Punjab has achieved the distinction of becoming the first state in the country to implement the revised BharatNet scheme across the state. This award reflects the significant progress made by the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in the field of technology.

Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha received the award from Ajay Kumar Karara, CGM, BSNL, Punjab Circle, in Chandigarh today.

Describing the award as a testament to Punjab's continued progress in the field of technology, Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha said that internet and broadband services have been made available in 43 blocks of the state (only one village remaining). Every village will be covered by this scheme by the end of November.

Stressing that this new initiative will usher in a broadband revolution in rural areas, the Chief Secretary further stated that this step will strengthen the Punjab government's roadmap for good governance. He stated that the state's villages will now become part of this vast digital family, making it easier for them to access various government services.

It is noteworthy that the Bharat Net scheme aims to provide broadband connectivity to all gram panchayats in the country, in addition to homes and institutions. This network is also being considered to provide e-health and e-governance services in rural areas.

The BSNL CGM informed the Chief Secretary that under the modified Bharat Net project, Punjab is the first state in India to have a functional S-NOC under BSNL, which can be monitored live from any location in the country. The state of Punjab initiated the modified Bharat Net project. This project was launched in the Harsha Chhina block of Amritsar with the active cooperation and coordination of various state governments.

In collaboration with agencies and district-level officials, 1,000 kilometers of HDD and approximately 400 kilometers of OFC have currently been laid across 22 blocks of Punjab. This was made possible as a result of a coordination meeting held in June 2025 under the joint chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of Punjab and the Telecom Secretary of the 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 Program.

The BSNL CGM also informed the Chief Secretary that BSNL has provided Wi-Fi connectivity to Ramkalwan village, one of the most remote border villages located near the India-Pakistan border in Pathankot district, Punjab, under BSNL's Vidya Mitram scheme. The village Sarpanch had approached BSNL to connect the village with Wi-Fi.

The CGM also requested the Chief Secretary of Punjab to encourage Panchayats across Punjab to avail this facility.