BMC to switch from MTNL hotlines to satellite network before monsoon

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC has decided to wind up Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited MTNL hotlines and switch to satellitebased hotlines instead This new system will be implemented before the monsoonldquoWe are using 63 MTNL hotlines which are directly connected with all civic wards fire bridges police and other government authorities These hotlines are mainly used during a disaster But most of the time these hotlines are not working Currently we use mobile or very high frequency wireless systems during emergency situations But hotlines are the best option for communication during such timesrdquo said an official from the civic disaster control departmentAccording to the official satellitebased hotline systems donrsquot face any network issues as both ends connect via satellite ldquoThis system can also function during heavy rain We are planning to implement it before the monsoon The estimated cost of the project is R6 crorerdquo the official said Currently the civic disaster department has 63 hotlines but after the upgrade there will be 7580 hotlines ldquoWe have decided to set up disaster rooms in the 13 hospitalsrdquo the official addedCitizensrsquo also ditch MTNLDadar resident Sachin S said ldquoI was using an MTNL landline connection a decade ago But there were many challenges Many times the landline was dead or I received higher bills So we discontinued the service We are using mobile phones as landlines even at homerdquoRajesh Pandya a resident of Dahisar said he stopped using the MTNL mobile network service two years ago due to network and internet connectivity issues ldquoI ported my number to another service providerrdquo Pandya said adding that he always faced connectivity issues while travelling from Dahisar towards the city especially after crossing AndheriSunny Sawant a resident of Naigaon told midday that his family stopped using the MTNL landline service during the pandemic as they started receiving bills that were extremely high and the service was not working properlyVarsha Shah another MTNL mobile service user said ldquoI have been using the MTNL service but constantly face network connectivity issues and get low internet speed even on the road At times even urgent messages from banks are not received due to network issues However messages to recharge the plan come in regularly but better facilities are not provided I have decided to port my number to another service providerrdquoUnion SpeakldquoWhen we raise questions about MTNL in the Parliament we get information that the government launches satellites for better connectivity But where is this connectivity Do consumers get network In 2015 MTNL started a Voluntary Retirement Scheme VRS At the time I asked for new staff to be hired But no one listens The operational area of the MTNL is spread in Mumbai Thane Mira Bhayandar Navi Mumbai and Panvel civic corporation limits But there are only 1200 people who work for maintenance Itrsquos not possible to maintain such a huge area with such a shortage of manpower Government policies are killing MTNL which has had better connectivity in the pastrdquo said Arvind Sawant Member of Parliament and president of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Kamgar SanghVoicesRajesh Pandya Dahisar residentrsquoI stopped using the MTNL mobile network service two years ago due to network and internet connectivity issues I always faced connectivity issues while travelling from Dahisar towards the city especially after crossing Andheri So I ported my numberrsquoVarsha Shah MTNL mobile service userlsquoI have been using the MTNL service but constantly face network connectivity issues and get low internet speed even on the road At times even urgent messages from banks are not received So I have decided to port my number to another service providerrsquoArvind Sawant MP and president of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Kamgar SanghlsquoThe operational area of the MTNL is spread in Mumbai Thane Mira Bhayandar Navi Mumbai and Panvel civic corporation limits But there are only 1200 people who work for maintenance Itrsquos not possible to maintain such a huge area with such a shortage of manpowerrsquo