Hi-tech casualty: Rains claim telephone exchange in city

Hi-tech casualty: Rains claim telephone exchange in city
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The recent rains in Bangalore have not just claimed hundreds of homes in low lying areas, but a modern telephone exchange too.

As many as 6,400 families off Hosur Road, near Electronic City, are not accessible on telephone as the rains submerged Hosur Road telephone exchange, damaging the communication network.

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has now decided to re-locate the telephone exchange so as to save it from rains in future.

The landlines that come under the Hosur Road exchange remained out of reach from the rest of the world for ten days since October 23. About 100 lines are still to be restored.

The residents are still facing inconvenience as the restoration work is underway. For nearly ten days, maximum number of lines were out of use.

Said Bhaskaran, a resident of the area, ‘‘We are still facing the problem. Many landlines are yet to be restored,’’ he added.

Bhaskaran added that people are not able to contact emergency service agencies during emergencies. Even the authorities concerned did not pay heed to our problem.

‘‘We tried to contact them but to no avail. It points out that there is no proper survey, upgradation and future approach,’’ he added.

The Chikk Begur tower is out of service. ‘‘The authorities say it is a technical problem.

So the residents of Hongasandra are not able to get clear signals on their mobile phones with BSNL connection. This has only added to their problem,’’ many residents said.

General Manager of Central Telecom Circle, Bijoy Anand Mishra admitted that the exchange is not located in a suitable area.

‘‘It is not an ideal location for the exchange. We plan to shift it to a suitable place,’’ he said.

‘‘We had to forcefully close down the exchange fearing spread of fire. Next two days was impossible for restoration work”.

“Our men worked round the clock from the second day to restore the lines.’’ The official maintained that only 100 lines are still pending restoration.