Tele-Density in Rural India is 16.54%
The percentage of tele-density in the rural areas of our country is 16.54% as on 31.05.2009 against the target of 4% rural tele-density by year 2010, as per New Telecom Policy 1999.
Under the Bharat Nirman Programme, 66,822 revenue villages not having telephone connectivity were to be provided with Village Public Telephone (VPT) facility excluding those villages having population less than 100, those lying in deep forests and those affected with insurgency. Agreements were signed with M/s Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in November 2004 to provide VPTs in these 66,822 numbers of uncovered villages. As on 31.05.2009, 57595 VPTs have been provided by BSNL, the implementing agency for the said program. The remaining VPTs are likely to be provided in a phased by November 2009.
Meanwhile, a revised list of villages, which were not having VPT facility, has been prepared after reconciliation of actual number of VPTs provided based on Census 2001. These 62443 villages still remaining uncovered are also being provided with VPT facility with subsidy support from Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund. An agreement to this effect has already been entered into with BSNL on 27th February 2009 and 26909 VPTs have already been provided under this agreement, as on 31.05.2009.
This reply was given by the Minister of State for Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Shri Gurudas Kamat in Rajya Sabha today
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BV/AT/PB
(Release ID :50508)