MTNL’s crossed wires at Kurla (W)

DECEMBER 24: Alarm bells should have rung long ago, but despite it’s much-touted modern equipment, the MTNL has for the last three years failed to provide telephone connections to Kurla (west) residents.

Those who registered at the Ghatkopar exchange between January 1995 and September 1997 have all along been told that Kurla west is a `technically unfeasible’ area. Said A K Thakkar, general manager of MTNL (East-I zone), the failure in providing connections has been due to the non-availability of a cable network. However, the network would soon be in place, he assured. “Laying new cables is a laborious and time-consuming process. Plus, the BMC disallows digging up of roads during the monsoon season. But the laying of the cable network is currently on, and connections would be provided to the residents in a few months,” Thakkar said.

Assistant General Manager of West-I zone M M Nim said a new exchange with a capacity of 4,000 lines has become operational at Bandra-Kurla complex. As the area of the complex is huge, he said, the capacity of the exchange could be increased to 50,000 lines. He said Kurla west will now be looked after by the West-I zone (Bandra-Kurla) exchange and not by the East-I zone (Ghatkopar) exchange. Connections would be given to all subscribers before May next year, he added.However, a local resident S K Patil alleged that due to this transfer of authority from one exchange to another, West-I zone has now got two waiting lists, “one its own and the other thrust upon it.”