The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has reportedly sought immediate intervention from the telecom, IT and law minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad to prevent Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) from awarding the undersea telecom cable maintenance contract to a consortium. Further, it has added that domestic companies should be allowed to bid for the contract.
As per PHD Chamber, a global tender allowing domestic companies is required for facilitating the stressed domestic sector.
However, BSNL is in the process to nominate the consortium parties of the South East Asia and Indian Ocean Cable Maintenance Agreement (SEAIOCMA) for the maintenance of the Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CANI) submarine cable system which according to the industry body is arbitrary.
As per PHD Chamber, the consortium has a doubtful past and had earlier declined to undertake shallow water repairs despite a binding contract, citing the Bharat-Lanka Link.
