Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has signed two MoUs aimed at bridging the digital divide and advancing technology-driven governance in rural areas.
The first agreement, a tripartite pact involving the state’s Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), focuses on the implementation of the amended BharatNet Phase-III programme. Under this initiative, the Centre will invest approximately ₹3,384 croreto upgrade 6,799 gram panchayats with advanced IP-MPLS networking technology using a ring topology.
The project targets providing high-speed optical fibre connectivity, including Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections, to over 50,000 villages across 314 blocks within the next three years. It envisions establishing optical fibre connectivity hubs at block and gram panchayat levels, which will serve as data exchange centres. From these hubs, fibre links will extend directly to individual rural households, creating a robust backbone for digital education, telemedicine, e-governance, agriculture services, and broader economic opportunities.
The BSNL has been designated as the Single Project Management Agency, with Creative Newtech Private Limited appointed as the Project Implementing Agency. Officials highlighted that the modern fibre-based broadband network will strengthen digital public infrastructure and support seamless connectivity for government institutions and communities.
Simultaneously, the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) inked a pact with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to promote joint efforts in frontier technologies. This collaboration will cover areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), cybersecurity, quantum computing, language technologies, and advanced digital governance solutions. The partnership aims to improve the efficiency, transparency, security, and accessibility of government services while supporting research and innovation across departments.
Electronics and Information Technology Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling described the development as a landmark step under the guidance of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision on Digital India and emphasised that the project would transform access to essential services at the grassroots level. Mahaling noted that the agreements represent a major milestone in building a digitally empowered Odisha.