Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

“Mobile phone directory impossible”

Staff Reporter

Says S.E. Rajam, General Manager, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Madurai

— Photo: S. James.

INFORMATIVE: N.S.V. Chitthan (second from left), MP, handing over first copy of directory to P. Mohan, MP, in the city on Tuesday. S.E. Rajam, GM, BSNL, N. Nanmaran (right), MLA, are also seen.

MADURAI: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has ruled out bringing out a directory for mobile phone users.

It is not possible as one cannot confine mobile phone users to any particular boundary, the Madurai General Manager, S.E. Rajam, said here on Tuesday.“A person can buy a mobile phone in Madurai and settle down even in New Delhi,” she said, while addressing a function to mark the release of ‘Madurai Secondary Switching Area Telephone Directory – 2007.’

She was responding to a suggestion from the Madurai East constituency MLA, N. Nanmaran, that the telecom major could consider bringing out such a directory.

Ms. Rajam said that equipment for broadband multiplay was being put in place. “The equipment is being used to reduce the waiting list of broadband applicants,” she said. Speaking earlier, Dindigul Member of Parliament, N.S.V Chitthan, put forth several queries for the BSNL administration.

They included the status of broadband in Tamil Nadu, how many villages would come under it, performance of wireless local loop equipment, steps taken to arrest the decline in BSNL landline subscribers and measures taken to prevent theft of cables at Tirumangalam.

He also wanted the administration to consider slashing roaming tariffs even further.

Ms. Rajam, the GM of BSNL, Karaikudi, who is holding additional charge of Madurai, assured him that action would be taken on all the points raised.

Only the employees of public sector units could save the industries as numerous agitations such as the one against move to privatise Neyveli Lignite Corporation had shown, said Madurai MP, P. Mohan.

The decision of BSNL Board to procure not only 2G, but also 3G technology was largely due to the nation-wide strike undertaken by the workers’ union.

He also suggested that in future directories could be brought at least once in two years. The current one was brought out after a delay of six years.

Mr. Mohan also came down heavily on the trend of roping in actors for advertisements.

“The workers themselves are talented. Their services can be availed for campaigns,” he said.

About 1.75 lakh copies of the directory have been printed at a total cost of Rs. 62,77, 950. It has been updated up to February this year.

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