BSNL CMD says the company will become leading operator again

"We lagged behind other private companies, as we could not purchase the required equipment in the last 4-5 years due to many reasons. Now everything is OK and tenders to purchase has been floated," he told reporters Dharamshala.

"BSNL has planned a Rs. 40,000 crore capital for the purpose," he added.

He also said that the company is emphasising on converting present telephone exchanges into New Generation network NGN, to give all mobile facilities to land line subscribers.

"29,000 such exchanges shall be converted to NGN of which 28,000 are in the rural sector," he said.

On cutting costs, Upadhyay said the PSU is awaiting government's approval for offering VRS to employees.

"BSNL is spending 52 percent of its capital in employees salaries as compared to other competitive companies who are just spending 5-6 percent," he said.

On resumption of network in flood-ravaged Uttrakhand, he said: "70 telephone exchanges were affected in Uttrakhand tragedy and only 7 are to be restored now all the 400 towers are now working there."

He said that BSNL could respond to 4000 calls to give last location of lost persons through their cell phones record in last seven days.

He also said that the remote areas of Himachal shall be connected through Microwave so that fibre cable disconnection in bad conditions could be avoided.