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TELECOM FACILITIES TO FUNCTION AT TOP GEAR DURING MUSHARRAF'S VISIT
New Delhi ~ July 11, 2001
The Minister for Communications Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has directed the MTNL VSNL and BSNL officials to ensure that the telecommunication facilities function at top gear during the forthcoming visit of the Pakistan President Mr. Pervez Musharraf. The Minister who took a high-level meeting of officials of BSNL, MTNL, VSNL, Ministry of External Affairs and the Press Information Bureau reviewed the position in respect of telecommunications facilities to be provided at Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer during President Musharraf's visit. During the meeting MTNL officials informed the Minister that adequate number of telephone connections with STD and ISD have been provided. Hot line facilities to Islamabad are also being provided at Delhi and Agra for which the matter has been taken up with Pakistani authorities. They said that necessary work for opening up of all the connections has been completed and the connections will be energized by the 13th of this month. As the Pakistan delegation will be going to Agra the circuits between Delhi and Agra have been augmented and necessary precautions like sending overflow from Delhi TAX to Agra via alternative route has been undertaken. The officials told the Minister that telecom services in the Media Center at Shastri Bhavan have been augmented keeping in view
the Press Briefings during the visit. They said that STD/ISD phones, faxes, personal computers with Internet and picture transmission facilities have been provided in addition to the existing facilities. They informed that a Control Centre would be in operation to monitor the flow of traffic through TAXs.
BSNL officials informed the Minister that a Media Center is being set up at the Mughal Sheraton Hotel at Agra with STD/ISD facilities fax lines IN PCOs for India Card, Cyber Cafe, with high speed access to Internet and picture transmission facilities. Besides video conferencing facilities and 24-hour service to the media will be provided to Journalists from this media center. District Administration of Agra is also setting up a media center at the Collectorate. Agra Telecom is providing STD PCO and fax facilities there. The Minister was told that for long distance network additional circuits are being provided between Agra and Delhi and all international traffic to Pakistan and other countries would be carried on satellite circuits provided by VSNL. Officials informed the minister that communication requirement of the Pakistan delegation has also been taken care of separately
they said.
Shri Paswan asked the officials to remain alert during the visit so that there is no disruption of telecom services. He also suggested that additional machinery as well as personnel could be deployed exclusively for this purpose. He also asked the officials to provide 24-hour help desks at both the media centers for smooth flow of information. Shri Paswan asked the officials to ensure adequate telecom facilities at Ajmer Sharif and Jaipur also. Shri Paswan directed official to get in touch with the private cellular operator in Agra and ensure that there is no traffic congestion during the visit apart from maintenance of top quality service. He was informed that the private cellular operator has been asked to install extra Base Transmitting Stations to augment its services.
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