The Government of India has disbursed Rs 2,229 crore under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) to bolster mobile connectivity in Odisha’s rural and remote regions, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, informed the Rajya Sabha on March 12, 2026.
In a written reply to a starred question, the Minister detailed that the Digital Bharat Nidhi—aimed at promoting universal access to telecommunication services in underserved rural, remote, and urban areas—has supported telecom operators in expanding mobile infrastructure across the state.
As of February 28, 2026, a total of Rs 2,229.35 crore has been released to telecom operators for providing mobile services in Odisha’s rural and remote areas. Of this amount, Rs 1,859.95 crore has been allocated specifically for the 13 districts in Odisha notified under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which cover Scheduled Areas with significant tribal populations.
Nationally, under 12 DBN-funded mobile tower projects, 34,780 mobile towers are planned to connect 46,331 villages in underserved areas. In Odisha, 5,182 mobile towers are earmarked to cover 7,157 villages, including 4,470 towers targeted at the Fifth Schedule districts to address connectivity gaps in challenging terrains.
This initiative aligns with the government’s broader push for digital inclusion, ensuring reliable mobile coverage to enable e-governance, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in remote parts of Odisha.
