The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : Phone `booths' at your beck and call

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Phone `booths' at your beck and call

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, SEPT. 28. Recall the desperate search for an STD booth to make an urgent call? What if someone suddenly appears on a two-wheeler or a tricycle and offers you an instrument to make the call?

Wireless phone

Well, it could turn out to be a reality soon as the AP Vikalangula Cooperative Corporation is planning to come out with a new concept of mobile STD booths in Vijayawada soon. As per this plan, the STD booth operator will ride to the customer with the wireless instrument mounted on a two-wheeler or a tricycle.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, the Project Officer of the corporation, K. Venkatratnam, said the new scheme was being evolved to provide self-employment opportunities to the physically challenged. It will also save time for the public who need not scout for STD booths and wait in the queue to make their calls.

After New Delhi

If the scheme is implemented, this will be the second city to have such a facility in the country after New Delhi. There, it was recently inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Sheila Dixit, Mr. Venkatratnam said.

Subsidy too

He said he had held discussions with Reliance Infocomm officials here for procuring the equipment, which might cost around Rs. 4,000. The instrument would also have a billing machine to provide instant bills.

He said presently the State Government was providing a subsidy of about Rs. 3,000 to the physically challenged persons for installation of PCOs and STD booths. The same amount could be provided for this scheme too.

This apart, the physically challenged are provided 50 per cent reimbursement towards their conveyance allowance. Those opting for the new scheme could also avail of this benefit, he said.

Mr. Venkatratnam said the beneficiaries of the scheme would have the option of either going for their own two-wheelers to carry the telephone or purchase the tricycles manufactured by the corporation.

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