Meeting with Shri Sudhakar Rao Papa, Director EB BSNL Board: Shri Rajesh Manchan, VP SNEA CHQ and Shri. M. S. Adasul, GS SNEA CHQ had a meeting on 24/04/2025 with Shri. Sudhakar Rao Papa, Director EB BSNL Board in his chamber.

At the outset we appreciated the efforts of Director EB in enhancing the Enterprise business of BSNL with special efforts for strengthening the Transmission network.

In response Director EB responded that all possible efforts are being made from BSNL management to meet the requirements by field units across India. 

We have mainly discussed the frequent backbone failures observed in different Circles and other issues related to the need of immediate strengthening of the BSNL OFC/Backbone Network by resolving issues thereof.

Director EB informed that till now all the proposals received from BAs and OAs for any requirement of strengthening OFC Routes with proposal for ring arrangements, hiring fibres are approved and conveyed to the concerned field units.

We appreciated the efforts by BSNL management but added that there is some improvement in some Circles and stability is seen. But in spite of such sincere efforts the stability in some Circles is not seen. In the recent past there have been regular failures in BSNL network in prominent circles and there is a lot of anguish among BSNL Customers due to these frequent failures of particular Backbone routes.

We specifically narrated that even after instant approval of CMD BSNL for hiring fibre from Private Operators for Kolkata to Chennai, the main backbone route of BSNL,  the same has not be materialised for last three months and situation in North East Region has reached to critical condition which has directly affected the business of BSNL.

Director EB responded that as per request from Kolkata Circles, approval was conveyed and tenders also floated for hiring fibres, but the same could not be materialised and there are lack of special and result oriented efforts. Hence it is decided that the tendering work will be assigned to CGM CNTx South and immediate action will be taken for early hiring and stability of the network.

We pointed out that the existing Chennai –Kolkata Route is disturbed only due to frequent failures in AP Circle and delay in restoration of such failure. We requested for some special efforts for avoiding failures, having alternate/ring routes for this frequent fault zone area. Director EB agreed to our say and conveyed that there are frequent failures between   Kadappa and Kurnool and there are issues as this route is affecting North East area and not to the local network of AP Circle. He assured to direct CNTx-S and AP Circle team to take care of this particular portion by ring route and immediate action to restore the faults.  

We also narrated about the frequent failures between Pune Mumbai, Ahmedabad-Mumbai, Nagpur-Mumbai, Bhopal -Mumbai, Guwahati to Kolkata and shared that all the rings in these network are disconnected at time causing the worst situation and requested for some concrete steps from BSNL Management for meeting such critical challenges for growth and development of BSNL. 

We urged the Director EB to have some specific focus on the issues faced by Assam, NE Circles, WB, GJ and MH Circles. We also added that the affected services in these Circles are affecting Telecom services in other Circles also.

Director EB informed that all the requests from Assam Circle are already given consideration and Assam Circle also has acted and hired Fibre as proposed by them and there should not be any issue henceforth except stability of Kolkata-Chennai Link. He agreed that there are issues between Nagpur-Mumbai, Pune-Mumbai and due to this the routes like Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Mumbai -Bhopal etc are affected. He conveyed that the proposal for hiring of Fibre between P Nagpur-Mumbai and Pune-Mumbai has been approved long back and required action is awaited from Maharashtra Circle to hire the fibre by completing tendering process which is under active consideration. He added that except these three routes viz. Kolkata- Chennai, Pune-Mumbai and Nagpur-Mumbai, all other proposals for hiring by BAs/Circles are approved and fibre also made available and if action is taken for these routes, there will be expected stability on these routes also.

We added that there is congestion in OFC routes of many BAs and Circles and there is a need of a concrete plan for enhancement of bandwidth of all OAs and BAs.

Director EB informed that whatever proposals are received from BAs or Circles all are approved and no single proposal is pending with the Corporate office.  He further and firmly assured that any proposal from BAs or Circle for strengthening route enhancement of bandwidth or new alter route or immediate hiring of bandwidth/fibre etc will be given consideration at the earliest and only condition is that after this there should be enhancement in the revenue for BSNL.  If there is no chance of revenue increase, then there is no wisdom in investing money of the BSNL.

He added that wherever the demand is raised for BNG the sanction has been given up to date and no case is pending at BSNLCO and wherever problems are creeping, BSNL Corporate Office is equipped for its quick solution.

We also narrated that there is lack of co-ordination with different units/offices and the delay in restoration needs to be reduced with proper and timely co-ordination of Transmission teams from Transmission and Territorial Circles up to OA level. .He assured all possible efforts are being taken from BSNL CO to monitor stability of the network and required co-ordination and he has sent a loud and clear message in a recent online meeting of Circle Heads.     

In conclusion of meeting Director EB conveyed that BSNL management is ready to look into all possible proposals for strengthening of Backbone/network and enhancement of bandwidth to meet practical requirements and it’s now up to BA/Circle/Units heads to have analysis of requirement of their network and send proposals with full justification and proposed revenue thereof.

We conveyed thanks to Director EB for sharing very important information on action being taken by BSNL strengthening BSNL Transmission Network and enhancement of bandwidth and assured to share pending issues pending on part of the field units as per feedback from our CS/DS concerned. 

AGM SR BSNL CO writes to all Circle Heads regarding Grant of Special CL by including delegates from 19/05/2025 to 21/05/2025 to office bearers/delegates of SNEA for attending 32^nd All India Conference at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Circle. Copy<<<>>

PGM CFA-Fin BSNL CO writes to all Circle Heads regarding submission of required documents for claim verification towards Claims against BSNL telecom services to DoT offices and officers.Copy<<<>>

As per DOT, the verification process could not be completed due to lack of supply of required documents by BSNL such as beneficiary details, issued SOs and period-specific information, the period of initiation and termination of facilities and commensurate bill etc and the last date for its submission is 05/05/2025.