Odisha signs a ₹3,384-crore BharatNet tripartite agreement with BSNL and Digital Bharat Nidhi to bring high-speed broadband to 6,799 gram panchayats
OdishaPlus Bureau
In a major push to strengthen rural digital infrastructure, the Odisha government on Wednesday signed a tripartite agreement with the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for the implementation of the ₹3,384.82-crore amended BharatNet programme across the State.
The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by connecting all 6,799 gram panchayats through a modern fibre-based broadband network over the next 10 years, significantly expanding digital access in rural Odisha.
Under the agreement, BSNL has been designated as the Single Project Management Agency (SPMA), while Creative Newtech Private Limited will serve as the Project Implementing Agency (PIA).
In a parallel development, the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) signed a separate agreement with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to collaborate on frontier technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), cybersecurity, quantum computing, language technologies and digital governance.
Officials said the two agreements would accelerate Odisha’s transition towards a technology-driven economy while strengthening the State’s digital public infrastructure.
According to project details, the BharatNet programme will establish a carrier-grade IP-MPLS network capable of delivering reliable high-speed broadband and fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connectivity to gram panchayats, government institutions, rural communities and households. The network will adopt a modern ring-topology architecture to ensure greater reliability and uninterrupted connectivity.
The government expects the upgraded digital infrastructure to enhance e-governance, digital education, telemedicine, financial inclusion and rural entrepreneurship while generating nearly 10,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities across the State.
The agreement between OCAC and C-DAC provides a framework for cooperation in research, innovation, electronics system design, skill development and deployment of advanced technologies. It is expected to support the development of next-generation digital governance solutions, strengthen Odisha’s start-up ecosystem, promote research collaborations and create world-class skilling opportunities for the State’s youth.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department, Vishal Kumar Dev, said the twin agreements would lay the foundation for an inclusive, technology-driven and knowledge-based economy.
“It will also strengthen research collaborations and support the adoption of emerging technologies across government departments and institutions,” he said.
The agreements were signed in the presence of Electronics and Information Technology Minister Mukesh Mahaling, who described them as significant milestones in Odisha’s digital transformation.
“Digital technology has become a key driver of the state’s socio-economic development, and robust digital infrastructure, coupled with emerging technologies, will usher in a new era of governance and public service delivery across sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, industry, employment and citizen services,” the minister said.