Spectrum policy under fire in RS

The Opposition on Thursday lambasted the telecom ministry, alleging that the 2G spectrum allocation to mobile operators resulted in a loss Rs 60,000 crore to the exchequer, a charge rejected by the government. Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha that the difference in the valuation of spectrum awarded by the government in 2007 to private players and the value realised in transaction with foreign companies in each case had been minimum Rs 6,000-7,000 crore.

Trans Asian Railway Network

Minister of State for Railways KH Muniyappa said on Thursday that the Inter Governmental Agreement on Trans Asian Railway Network India signed in June 2007 had come into force after being ratified by eight signatories. The southern corridor of the Trans Asian Railway Network tracing 11,460 km will connect Asia with Europe via India.

BSNL cautioned by govt

State-owned BSNL has been cautioned by the government on security related aspects while awarding telecom contracts to foreign firms for the PSU’s proposed 93 million GSM lines deal, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

Mobile charging facility in trains

The railways have decided to introduce mobile phone charging facility in sleeper-class coaches of every train in a phased manner for passenger benefit, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.