<span style="color: #222222;">Communications Minister Manoj Sinha on Monday said Bharat Broadband Network Limited, BBNL has played a key role in leading the successful implementation of the BharatNet project for digitally connecting all 2,50,000 gram panchayats in the country. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Minister said the objective of this flagship project is to facilitate the delivery of e-governance, e-health, e-banking, and other services to citizens on a non-discriminatory basis. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Talking to media after inaugurating the new office of BBNL in New Delhi, Mr Sinha said around 50 per cent of the project has been completed and the remainder is targeted for completion by March next year. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Our correspondent reports that target of digitally connecting one lakh gram panchayats under phase one of BharatNet was achieved in December last year. </span><br />