Govt takes a call to save telecom firms, but no relaxation likely on AGR

The Union government is of the view that there can be a debate on the quantum of payment and penalty but not on the fact that the companies have to make the payments

After back-to-back parleys this week between the top management of telecom companies and the government, a consensus seems to have emerged on the need to save the financially stressed sector. 

While Vodafone Idea Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and Chief Executive Ravinder Takkar did their rounds of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and North Block over the last few days, Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal joined in as well to seek relief for the telecom industry faced with a bill of Rs 1.47 trillion in pending dues linked to adjusted gross revenue (AGR).       

There’s no official word yet from the