BSNL mobile users irked over call dropping; authorities blame PDD

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 4

Mobile network users of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in the city are facing the problem of frequent call dropping adding to their miseries as well as swelling their billing amount.

Many network users across the city are of a general lament that even two-three minute talk on the cell phone is disturbed with dropped calls, which leads to frustration.

The users also blame such malfunctioning in the connectivity for raising their billing amount as they have to complete their important conservation while reconnecting the call several times.

“This is quite frustrating that in order to complete a call we have to try many times. Besides, the voice is often cracking and leads to the disconnection of the call. Reconnecting the call leads to an inflated bill,” said Upainder Krishan, a businessman in Rehari who is using two BSNL mobile connections and facing the problem with both.

The Cell One users feel if such problem persists they have to switch over to the other service provider.

“Technical snags, weak signals and frequent congestion are continuous problems with BSNL despite the fact that it has the largest number of consumers due to it being a government service provider and the oldest one in the telecom service. The calls getting frequently disconnected and the number going out of reach have become a common phenomenon,” said Sangeeta Goyal, a state government employee residing at Trikuta Nagar.

Meanwhile, Deputy General Manager, BSNL, Jammu circle, Kulbhushan Sharma said such problems existed in the summers due to frequent power cuts by the Power Development Department, but the BSNL had gradually and steadily recovered.

“In September, the situation improved and since then we are on the job to rectify the problem and make our outreach perfect and hassle-free. The last 15 days were bad when the PDD went for large cuts to cover up its losses and complete its targets, thus leaving us on diesel usage and battery backups,” said Kulbhushan Sharma.

He blamed the PDD for forcing the telecom sector to go erratic thus extending hardships to the customers, but assured that BSNL would be taking lead among all other competitors.