The Hindu : Kerala News : BSNL expands network at Sabarimala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 06, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

BSNL expands network at Sabarimala

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, NOV. 5. The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have made elaborate arrangements to provide better telecommunication network at Sabarimala during the forthcoming Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrim season that begins on November 16.

Addressing a press conference here today, the BSNL General Manager, C. Sasidharan, said that full-fledged seasonal customer service centres would be opened at Lahai and Nilackal, besides those at Sannidhanam and Pampa, during the two-month long pilgrim season.

He said that the cellular recharge coupons of different States would be made available at all the customer service centres in the district.

The BSNL would take every possible step to check fleecing of pilgrims, if any, at the hands of the private phone booth operators at Sabarimala and surrounding areas, Mr. Sasidharan said.

Ayyappa Seva Sanghom

Mr. Sasidharan said that talks were under way with the Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom (ABASS) authorities, to explore the possibility of setting up public telephone booths at its camps at Pampa, Sannidhanam, Marakoottom, Saramkuthi, etc., during the season.

He said that the proposal was to seek the service of the ABASS volunteers to operate the public phone booths that are to be set up at the Sanghom camps or pilgrim amenity centres at Sabarimala.

Solar-powered exchange

Mr. Sasidharan said that the first solar-powered telephone exchange in the whole State would be inaugurated at Nilackal on November 9.

The local MP, Francis George, would dedicate the Nilackal phone exchange to the nation at a simple function at 12.30 pm, he added.

According to him, the new phone exchange would be beneficial to the people residing at the nearby Attathode tribal settlement, Plappaly, Chalakayam, etc.

Mr. Sasidharan said that the BSNL would open the first cellular public telephone booth at Karimala during the season.

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