14,221 km optical fibre cables laid in Karnataka, minister tells Lok Sabha

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 14,221 km of optical Fibre cables (OFCs) had been laid under the BharatNet project in Karnataka till June 2025.

“The total number of FTTH (fiber to the home) connections provided in the state is 55,978, of which 1,618 are in Dakshina Kannada district. Wi-fi hotspots have been installed under BharatNet in the state in 3,213 GPs,” Minister of State for Communication Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar told the House.

Replying to a question by Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha member Brijesh Chowta (BJP), the minister said, “BharatNet is being implemented in a phased manner to provide broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country, including Karnataka. Under BharatNet phase-I, 6,084 Gram Panchayats in Karnataka have been made service-ready. Providing connectivity to remaining GPs in the state and further strengthening of the network is under the scope of the amended BharatNet programme”.

“In Karnataka, as on June 30, 2025, a total amount of Rs 1,963 crore has been allocated/utilized under BharatNet project,” the minister said.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said user fee was being collected at Ganebail toll plaza on the Belagavi-Khanapur section of NH-748 for a completed length of 20.8 km only.

However, no toll charges were collected on the 52-km Khanapur-Goa stretch (on the inter-state border) of NH-748, Gadkari told the
Rajya Sabha.

Replying to a BJP member’s question, the minister said the road transport ministry was building two-lane highways from Khanapur to Goa of NH-748, of 52-km length.

The work got delayed due to the slow progress shown by the contractor, public demands for additional underpasses and road closure requirements, he said. 

“The present progress is about 71% and it is targeted to be completed by March next year. A fine of Rs 3.2 crore was imposed on the contractor for slow progress. The state government has been requested to provide required road closures to expedite the work,”
he said.