With the Government of India according its approval in principle to Bharat Net 2.0 in Uttarakhand, 12,000 villages in the state will receive internet connections under this project. The approval was granted when chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat met the Union Information Technology minister Ravishankar Prasad in New Delhi on Monday.

Regarding the second phase of Bharat Net, the CM also sought that administrative and financial approvals for this project also be granted soon.

Citing Uttarakhand’s difficult geographical conditions, strategic importance and vulnerability to disasters, Rawat stressed that the time-bound implementation of Bharat Net project as a state-led model is very important. Administrative and financial approvals should be granted as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary delay in the project, he added.

During the meeting, Rawat also requested that the India Enterprise Architecture initiative be implemented as a top priority in Uttarakhand. The Union minister and the CM also agreed on strengthening digital connectivity in the Char Dham region. Along with this, it was also decided that a project will be made for strengthening internet connectivity in the border areas. The CM further said that Uttarakhand should also be included in India Enterprise Architecture so that state-wide computerisation of departments like agriculture, health and education can be done. This is very important considering the lessons learnt from the Covid pandemic, he said.

Prasad assured Rawat of all possible assistance to Uttarakhand.