Paswan proposal to cost DoT Rs 1,200 cr

New Delhi, August 12: While the Department of Telecom (DoT) and the Department of Telecom Services (DTS) is still reeling under the impact of the decision to open up the intra-circle long-distance telecom market, a proposal by telecom minister Ram Vilas Paswan has sent shivers up their spines.

Undoubtedly one that will go down very well with the people, Paswan has proposed that the distance over which telephone calls get categorised as long distance ones, be increased manifold. Till now, for example, calls over a 50 km distance are classified as long distance, and trunk call rates are applied to them. Paswan has proposed that this be increased to between 250 and 300 km. While the proposal has been mooted for Uttar Pradesh to begin with, DoT officials are sure that if it is agreed to, the same facilities will be asked for in various other states as well. In UP alone, if accepted, the proposal will lead to a loss in STD revenue of around Rs 1,000 crore.