BSNL to terminate 160-year-old telegram service due to declining revenues
Smartphones, emails and SMS finally make BSNL's 160 year-old telegram service redundant.
BSNL has decided to discontinue its 160-year-old telegraph service from July 15. A circular issued by the Sr. General Manager (Telegraph Services), BSNL was sent to various telecom district and circle offices to stop booking telegrams from the aforementioned date. BSNL will be adjusting its surplus telegraph staff members in the next 3 months in its mobile services, landline telephony or broadband services verticals.
The telecom offices will have to maintain the log books, service messages as well as delivery slips for up to six months from the date of bookings. Complaints, press reports and other messages will be kept for one year only.
TOI’s sources at BSNL Delhi said, “We had asked the government to support the service as it was not commercially viable and the government said the BSNL board should decide on it…We have taken a decision to close the service after consultation with the Department of Posts. They also said that there are better options available.”
BSNL has recently revised its charges after a gap of 60 years in May 2011 due to declining revenues. The telegram charges for inland services were increased to Rs. 27/50 from Rs. 3/50, 4/50.
Source: TOI