'OFC network for defence services faces time, cost overruns'

The optical fibre network for defence services has seen time and cost overruns, and Telecom Department is holding regular meetings with various agencies to ensure early completion of the project, Parliament was informed today.
"The project is being executed by BSNL. As per tenders for OFC, the tendered cost is more than the estimated cost. Similarly, for tenders issued for equipments, the tendered amount is more than the estimated cost. Thus there will be cost overrun for the project," Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
The minister said that the time overrun has occurred due to

reasons like delay in tender finalisation and court cases by bidding parties.
Other reasons for time overrun were delay in Right of Way approval from state and Central government and their agencies, limitation of working season in mountainous areas, and law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir and some North Eastern states.
"In order to ensure early completion of project regular meetings are being held by Department of Telecom with concerned state and Central government departments and their agencies. The bottlenecks and hindrances are sorted out in these co-ordination and monitoring meetings," the minister added.
To another query, Sinha said at present there is no proposal for merger of state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd.