Naidu directs telecom operators to expedite network restoration post Hudhud damage

Airtel chief Sunil Mittal raised concerns over non-cooperation from building owners where their cell towers were installed

Keeping in view the badly-hit communication systems in Cyclone Hudhud-ravaged Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday directed all the telecom operators to expedite the process of restoring their cellular networks.

“While state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has restored 78 per cent of its damaged network in Vizag, private operators have lagged behind with 40-45 per cent. I need a detailed report on your (operators) restoration efforts every hour,” Naidu told the telcos.

According to Parakala Prabhakar, communications adviser to the Andhra Pradesh government, Airtel chief Sunil Mittal and representatives from Vodafone, Idea, Uninor and Reliance were among those who met Naidu at the collectorate today.

“Sunil Mittal, while stating that they were willing to restore their networks as early as possible, raised concerns over non-cooperation from building owners where their cell towers were installed,” Prabhakar said, adding the operators would be holding a separate meeting this evening to discuss their next course of action.

The chief minister said the government had already restored 25 per cent of the power supply while the remaining would be restored in the next 15 days.

“We are in discussion with companies like Tata and L&T for the same,” he said, adding the government would recreate the lost greenery in Vizag by developing landscaping etc with the help of Kadiyam Nursery in East Godavari district.

Meanwhile, Nishi Vasudeva, chairperson and managing director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), who called on Naidu today, said it would take another 10 days to restore operations at its Vizag refinery.

“We, however, have sufficient petrol and diesel stock to cater to the requirements of Vizag city,” she said.