Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SP)

New Delhi, Feb 14: It is gathered that the central government has asked the officials to think of closing down Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) permanently as the need for the same is felt. BSNL had been a major player in the field of telecommunications of India, but its position has been slowly eroding over the last many years.

BSNL has been facing losses year after year. It is said that telecom secretary, Aruna Sundararajan, has asked top officials to consider any feasible revival plans for BSNL including disinvestment. If no plans are feasible or promising, the BSNL top officials have been told even to consider the option of winding up BSNL, sources stated.

BSNL suffered a loss of Rs 31,287 crore in the year 2017-18. The government is also thinking of offering voluntary retirement scheme for the existing employees and disposal of land and buildings owned by the company. There is a plan to reduce the current retirement age of employees from 60 to 58 which will save Rs 3,000 crore for the government in the form of salary and emoluments.