Viability gap funding of Rs 19,041 crore has been approved for BharatNet in 16 states of the country in a meeting of the Union Cabinet. The Union Cabinet has approved the BharatNet implementation strategy through PPP model to provide broadband internet facility to villages in 16 states of the country.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government has taken a historic decision in this direction to reach every village on the information highway. On August 15, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that in 1000 days, six lakh villages would get optical fiber broadband through BharatNet.

BharatNet

Ravishankar Prasad said that today an important decision has been taken in this direction. We have reached 1.56 lakh gram panchayats. The country’s 2.5 lakh gram panchayats were to be connected with optical fiber. Today, we have approved Bharat Net through PPP model in 16 states of the country at a total cost of Rs 29,432 crore.

He further said, ‘In this, the Viability Gap Funding from the Government of India will be of Rs 19,041 crore. We are bringing this through PPP model in 3 lakh 61 thousand villages of the country which are in 16 states. We have made it nine packages in 16 states. No one player will get more than four packages.

Internet Connectivity

The cabinet approved the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. The scheme aims to improve operational efficiency and financial stability of all DISCOMs/Power Departments except private sector DISCOMs by providing conditional financial assistance to strengthen infrastructure. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the cabinet today approved the decision, which was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman two days ago.