CS Atal Dulloo Reviews ABP Implementation, Calls It Game-Changer for J&K

CS Atal Dulloo Reviews ABP Implementation, Calls It Game-Changer for J&K

Tarique Raheem

SRINAGAR, July 21: 

In a significant push towards rural digitisation, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday co-chaired a high-level meeting with Secretary Telecom, Government of India, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, to review the implementation of the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) in the Union Territory.

The meeting, attended by senior officials including Principal Secretary, Power Development Department; Commissioner Secretary, Forests; Secretary IT; Secretary Cooperatives; CGM BSNL; Deputy Commissioners; SIO NIC and others, focused on the roadmap for enhancing digital infrastructure at the grassroots level.

Highlighting the critical importance of the project, Chief Secretary Dulloo said the ABP would act as a cornerstone for e-governance, bringing high-speed internet to remote tehsils, blocks, and Panchayats. He assured full administrative backing to ensure the project is executed within defined timelines.

"The BharatNet initiative has the potential to revolutionise public service delivery across rural areas—from schools and health centres to agriculture offices. Real-time data access, crop advisories, and weather alerts reaching farmers directly can be a game-changer," Dulloo said.

Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary Telecom, underscored the need for robust inter-departmental coordination to streamline implementation. He urged departments like IT, PDD and RDD to extend all necessary support—ranging from space and logistics to uninterrupted power supply—for smooth rollout of the digital infrastructure. He also advised the UT to draw insights from states that have successfully operationalised ABP and ensure optimal utilisation and regular maintenance of the infrastructure to maximise its socio-economic impact.

The Amended BharatNet Programme, approved by the Cabinet at a nationwide project cost of ₹1.39 lakh crore, aims to provide Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs), with additional provision for connecting non-GP villages based on demand.

In Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh), the ABP comes with an estimated cost of ₹2,631 crore, covering both capital expenditure (Capex) and operational expenditure (Opex). The plan includes bringing 413 already connected GPs into ring topology, connecting an additional 3,887 new GPs, and enabling Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband connections with a target of 2 lakh FTTH connections, aligned with the commissioning of GPs. The programme targets network uptime of over 98%, backed by a 10-year Operation and Maintenance commitment.

The implementation agency for the project is M/s STL, designated as the EPC contractor, while BSNL will serve as the Project Management Agency (PMA). Key milestones include the handover-takeover (HOTO) of the existing network by the Project Implementing Agency within six months of the agreement signing, survey of all GPs for ring topology coverage within 12 months, and full commissioning of GPs under ring architecture within 36 months. The establishment of a state-of-the-art Network Operation Centre (NOC) at Jammu is expected by September 2025.

The phased FTTH rollout will begin with moderate uptake in the first year, picking up in the second year as over 50 percent of GPs become operational, and reaching peak adoption in Years 3 and 4. Officials said the programme will help narrow the urban-rural digital divide, with current broadband penetration standing at just 2 percent in rural India, compared to 33 percent in urban areas.

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