Over 5,100 Panchayats Go Live on BharatNet as ₹150 Crore Telecom Reforms Kick Off
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Haryana has reached a massive milestone in expanding high-speed digital connectivity and next-generation telecommunications infrastructure across its hinterlands, linking 5,154 out of 6,222 Gram Panchayats to the optical fiber-backed BharatNet network. Accounting for an impressive 82.84 percent rural coverage rate, the infrastructure drive has already operationalized 45,130 Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections across villages, with active preparations underway to extend seamless high-speed internet access to another 1,068 rural settlements shortly. Reviewing this high-impact transformation during a State Broadband Committee conference in Chandigarh, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi assessed the rapid implementation of the Right of Way (RoW) Rules 2024, fast-tracked 5G network rollout frameworks, and administrative clearances for ongoing telecom installations.
₹150 Crore SASCI Incentive Package and Accelerated 45-Day RoW Approvals
Backing Haryana's proactive telecom governance, the Central Government has allocated a substantial ₹150 crore fiscal incentive to the state under the Special Assistance Scheme for Capital Investment (SASCI), directly tied to six key sectoral reform benchmarks. Having resolved every pending RoW application dated up to March 31, the state secured the maximum milestone incentive of ₹22.5 crore. The broader ₹150 crore incentive portfolio distributes ₹45 crore for statutory RoW rule implementation, ₹22.5 crore for the State RoW Portal, ₹7.5 crore for slashing application processing turnarounds, ₹37.5 crore for strict BharatNet compliance, and ₹15 crore for power sector integration. To maintain this momentum, Chief Secretary Rastogi ordered administrative departments to aggressively compress the average approval timeline for all fresh RoW applications down to 45 days or less.
5G Small Cell Deployment, Smart Towers, and "Call Before You Dig" Safety Grid
To future-proof rural connectivity, the state administration is activating district-level telecommunications committees chaired by Deputy Commissioners, mandating quarterly review sessions to unblock local ground-level bottlenecks. Significant emphasis has been placed on deploying 5G small cells, rooftop antennas, smart utility poles, and shared optical fiber networks directly across designated government buildings and public infrastructure. To prevent accidental severing of subterranean optical lines during civic excavation, 1,204 registered departmental users are actively utilizing the integrated "Call Before You Dig" mobile tracking system. Furthermore, ongoing transitions to smart energy meters across cellular towers under the revamped BharatNet framework are poised to provide telecom providers with open access to green power while ensuring transparent energy monitoring across village panchayats.
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