A high-level meeting to review the implementation of the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) in Jammu and Kashmir was co-chaired today by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Secretary, Telecom, GoI, Dr. Neeraj Mittal.
The meeting emphasized accelerating rural broadband access in J&K, where rural internet penetration is just 2% compared to 33% in urban areas. Officials noted that ABP would play a pivotal role in boosting digital governance and connectivity across remote blocks, tehsils, and panchayats.
Chief Secretary Dulloo assured full support from the UT administration, highlighting the project's potential to enhance connectivity in schools, hospitals, agriculture offices, and other institutions. “This initiative will also revolutionize agriculture by enabling real-time access to crop advisories and weather forecasts,” he said.
Secretary Telecom Dr. Mittal stressed optimal usage and maintenance of the BharatNet infrastructure, recommending inter-departmental coordination and drawing lessons from best-performing states. He directed departments like IT, PDD, and RDD to ensure logistical support, including space and power.
Under the ABP, all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and on-demand non-GP villages in J&K will be connected via Optical Fiber Cable (OFC), ensuring 98% uptime and a 10-year operation and maintenance plan. Nationally, the project has a sanctioned cost of ₹1.39 lakh crore; for J&K (including Ladakh), the estimated cost is ₹2,631 crore.
The implementation will involve:
Migrating 413 existing GPs to ring topology.
Connecting 3,887 new GPs.
Providing 2 lakh Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections.
Setting up a Network Operation Centre (NOC) in Jammu by September 2025.
The project is being executed by M/s STL as the EPC contractor and BSNL as the Project Management Agency. Survey and implementation milestones span 36 months from the agreement signing date.
A centralized BharatNet Issue Management Platform has also been established to streamline communication and resolve implementation bottlenecks. Officials emphasized that ABP will bring digital services like e-health, e-education, and e-governance to rural households and businesses, significantly strengthening J&K’s digital infrastructure.