Question : TELEPHONE CONNECTIONS IN JALANDHAR

(a) whether new telephone connections under Non-OYT-general category have been provided to all the applicants who had applied for the same during the period January 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000 in Jalandhar city particularly under Master Tara Singh Telephone Exchange;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) if so, the reasons therefor; and

(d) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government for providing new telephone connections to all the above said applicants of Jalandhar city under Master Tara Singh Telephone Exchange without any further delay?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Does not arise in view of (a) above.

(c) The applicants under Non-OYT-General Category who registered during the period January 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000 under Master Tara Singh Telephone Exchange could not be provided telephone connections due to the following reasons:

1. The area is technically not feasible at present due to paucity of underground cable pairs.

2. Road –cutting permission in some areas of Master Tara Singh Nagar has not been given by the Municipal Corporation authorities.

(d) The following steps have been taken to provide new telephone connections to the above applicants.

i. With a view to shortening cable lengths, three remote switching units of capacity 3000 lines; 3000 lines & 2000 lines have been planned. These are in pipe-line for commissioning in the above exchange area during the year 2000-2001.

ii. Under ground cables are being laid to make the area technically feasible.

iii. Municipal Corporation authorities are being pursued vigorously for granting road cutting permission which has been agreed to in phases.