Raipur/New Delhi, August 18, 2026: A major agreement has been signed to accelerate the rollout of the Amended BharatNet Program (ABP) in Chhattisgarh, aimed at strengthening broadband connectivity across rural and remote areas of the state.
Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), signed the agreement with the Government of Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarh State BharatNet Infrastructure Limited (CSBIL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Chhattisgarh Infotech Promotion Society (CHiPS) at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi.
The Government of India has approved ₹3,942 crore in financial support for implementation of the Amended BharatNet Program in Chhattisgarh. The project will be implemented through CSBIL and will cover 11,682 Gram Panchayats.
This includes upgrading 4,048 Phase-I Gram Panchayats from linear to ring topology, covering 5,964 Phase-II Gram Panchayats and connecting 1,670 newly created Gram Panchayats. In addition, 8,328 villages will receive connectivity on a demand basis to strengthen last-mile broadband access.
The initiative is expected to support more than three lakh rural fibre-to-the-home connections with financial assistance from the Centre. Improved broadband infrastructure is expected to expand access to e-Governance, online education, telemedicine, digital payments and other citizen-centric digital services in rural and remote parts of Chhattisgarh. The upgraded network will also improve resilience and provide a stronger foundation for future digital services.
The agreement marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Amended BharatNet Program in the state and reflects cooperation between the Central and Chhattisgarh governments to bridge the rural digital divide.
The Union Cabinet approved the Amended BharatNet Program on August 4, 2023, with the objective of upgrading, consolidating and expanding the BharatNet network to provide robust, future-ready broadband connectivity to Gram Panchayats and villages on demand. The latest agreement is expected to accelerate execution and contribute to the broader goal of building a digitally empowered and inclusive society in Chhattisgarh.