The union minister of communications and development of the northeastern region has urged the chief minister of Odisha to instruct state departments and agencies to expedite the clearance of outstanding dues owed to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), which stood at Rs 285.4 million as of December 31, 2025.
In a recent letter, the minister said BSNL continues to play a critical role in India’s telecom backbone, especially in rural and remote areas, while also serving key government users such as the armed forces, banks and other public institutions. He noted that the PSU’s wide network footprint and reach make it a reliable platform for delivering citizen-centric services.
Highlighting BSNL’s financial stress, the minister pointed out that the centre approved revival packages in 2019, 2022 and 2023 to improve the company’s viability and competitiveness. However, he said BSNL still needs consistent cash flows to meet routine operational requirements and to modernise its telecom infrastructure. He reiterated that Rs 285.4 million remained outstanding from state government departments and organisations as of December 31 last year.
Further underlining BSNL’s role in providing secure and dependable communications, the minister said timely payments are essential to sustain operations and maintain service quality, adding that support from state governments is crucial for BSNL to continue contributing to regional and national development.
