CHANDIGARH (TIP): In a bid to provide high speed internet connectivity with unlimited bandwidth in rural areas, the Punjab government has initiated a project to connect all villages with the optical fibre network. A spokesman from the governance reforms department, on December 11, said the state cabinet had already approved provision of right of way for implementation of the project, which would indirectly boost the state GDP. A tripartite MoU had been signed between Punjab, the Union government and Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL) to transform villages into e-villages under the project. He said the initiative would help bridge the digital gap between rural and urban areas and provide e-services to gram panchayats. As a pilot project, BBNL selected 67 blocks covering 6,000 villages to connect with Optical Fiber Network in the first phase. Divulging the project implementation plan, he said the project would be completed by utilizing existing fibers of PSUs like BSNL, Railtel and power grid besides laying incremental fibre to connect to gram panchayats, wherever necessary.