BBNL Invites Tender for BharatNet Project Under PPP Model

BBNL has invited global tender for the development of BharatNet through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This tender includes creation, upgradation, operation and maintenance, and utilization of BharatNet.

BBNL Invites Tender for BharatNet

BBNL has invited the tender in nine separate packages across 16 states for a concession period of 30 years. The tender comes as the Cabinet approved a viability gap funding of over ₹19,000 crore for the project. BBNL said that it will execute the project via a Design, Build, Finance, Operate & Transfer (DBFOT) concession under the PPP framework.

The bidding process will comprise a single-stage, two-part bidding. Called the 'Qualification bid' and the 'Financial bid', these will decide the selection of bidder for undertaking the project. The statement read that the bidders have to submit bids separately for each package. The statement said, "once awarded, the selected Bidder shall create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), sign the agreement, achieve Financial Closure and undertake creation, upgradation, operation & maintenance and utilisation of BharatNet across the concession period".

The government seeks to leverage the private sector's "capability, capacity, and efficiency for O&M, utilization, and revenue generation". The center is also targeting more effectiveness and accessibility in the project. Also, this move would also serve the objective of greater social inclusion, as it will deliver government schemes and private sector services via broadband.

Former IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that the total expenditure to cover 3,60,000 villages in 16 states will be ₹19,430 crore. This amount also includes the amount for viability gap funding. Recently, the Center has expanded the scope of BharatNet to connect all inhabited villages of the country. That is, almost 6.43 lakh villages, including Gram Panchayats.

BharatNet seeks to empower India's populations with affordable internet access. The project will cover around 3.61 lakh villages, including Gram Panchayats (GPs) across 16 states. These states are: Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh.