Chandigarh, November 12, 2025 — Punjab has set a national precedent by connecting every village in the state with high-speed broadband under the revised BharatNet scheme, officials announced Tuesday.
Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha received the award for the project from BSNL CGM Ajay Kumar Karara, describing it as a “new dawn for the 30 million residents of Punjab.” According to officials, 43 blocks already have broadband access, and the rollout will reach all villages by the end of November.
The project involved laying more than 1,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables, connecting rural areas to the Digital India network. Sinha said, “The fact that Wi-Fi has reached Ramkalwan, a border village in Pathankot, shows the government’s determination to leave no community behind.”
The initiative is expected to impact multiple sectors. Farmers, who form nearly 60% of the population, can now access market rates, weather updates, and government schemes digitally, reducing reliance on intermediaries.
For the youth, broadband access opens opportunities in online employment fields such as digital marketing, graphic design, and data entry, which were previously inaccessible in villages. Education for around three million students in government schools will also benefit through online classes and access to resources from premier institutes.
Telemedicine services will provide remote consultations with specialists from major hospitals in Chandigarh and Amritsar, improving healthcare delivery in underserved areas.
Women in rural areas will gain tools for financial independence, business, and education through digital access. Sinha said the project’s success reflects a combination of technological planning and grassroots participation, emphasizing that the award belongs to “every Punjabi who dreams of a progressive and modern Punjab.”
Officials stressed that the project demonstrates that government schemes can be implemented effectively on the ground, not just remain on paper, aligning with the national Digital India initiative.
