Poor Internet connectivity has CP fuming

The Commonwealth Games are over but for those working in Connaught Place, the after effects continue.

Many Internet and telephone connections, which were disrupted during the renovation work in the Middle Circle, have not been restored despite repeated complaints. This has led to huge losses for traders and office goers.

“We hoped that the situation would come back to normal once the Games were over but the connections are still not working. I have been paying a rental of R8,000 per month for office Internet, despite no services,” said Anurag Singh, who owns a software company in the Middle Circle.

Singh had to shut his office during the Games preparation and had to provide all his employees with Blackberry phones to ensure they could continue working from home.

“We have been trying to get the office connections discontinued but are being made to run from pillar to post for that. Even if we discontinue services, there is no guarantee that other service providers will be any better as everyone has been facing problems," Singh added.

Some offices have also started shifting out Connaught Place to avoid these problems. "Two offices from our building have already shifted owing to the constant problems," said Rajesh Mahajan, who works in M Block, Middle Circle.

Problems have also been experienced in the Inner and Outer circles.

"The whole of Connaught Place has been facing problems in Internet connectivity. It has also generated revenue losses," said Atul Bhargava, president, New Delhi Trader's Association.

“I, along with a few others in my building, have decided to go to the consumer court. I have an Airtel connection which has been really bad but others are no better. Many problems have been seen in MTNL connections, among others,” said a businessman, who did not want to be named.

Officials from Airtel, meanwhile, said that they had not received such complaints. “We will take prompt action if we receive such complaints,” said an Airtel official.

There is more bad news. Civic agencies are planning to restart work in Connaught Place in December. The Middle Circle will be dug up again and the work is expected to be completed in March 2012.