MPs have to pay for faster Net

Responding to requests for faster net speed, MTNL has sought Rs. 40 crore as expenses to lay fibre cable to the 692 residences of parliamentarians. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.

If you want faster internet, you will have to foot the bill for it. This seems to be the message to MPs from state-owned MTNL. Responding to requests for faster net speed, MTNL has sought Rs. 40 crore as expenses to lay fibre cable to the 692 residences of parliamentarians.

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The new connection will increase the speed to 10 mbps from current 2 mbps. It has also offered unlimited download but with an increased tariff of Rs. 1600 instead of the present rate of Rs. 1500.

Telecom minister Kapil Sibal recently wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar outlining that if the parliament secretariat agrees to bear the cost, MTNL can complete the project in as many as three-four months.

Sources said that MTNL has argued that Lutyen’s Delhi and three other regions—where the MP residences are located—deprives it from earning revenues from other commercial facilities.

Kumar is likely to take a final call but a part of the parliament secretariat feels it would be unnecessary expense especially when the government is aggressively pursuing expenditure cut from all possible sources.