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BSNL projects capital outlay of Rs 19,100 cr for 2001-02
Shalini Dagar
New Delhi : Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is planning a capital outlay of Rs 19,100 crore for 2001-02, the first full financial year for the newly corporatised behemoth. Planning to raise a substantial chunk from internal resources, the corporation would be investing the sum in routine switching and transmission equipment. In a interview with The Financial Express, director (finance) BSNL, Mr SP Purwar said: "Of the total planned outlay we are planning to generate around Rs 14,000 crore from internal resources, while the remaining Rs 5,000 crore or so, would be raised from borrowings." In the current year, 2000-1, BSNL had planned to raise Rs 2,152 crore from the market in November 2000, through bonds issued to financial institutions.It now expects to raise far less than originally planned and expects to approach the markets in the next two or three weeks. Mr Purwar said: "We had earlier revised our requirements upwards, however, right now we are reassessing the situation and our requirements are expected to be much lower. As of now, BSNL might not require more a few hundred crores for this financial year." BSNL which was corporatised on October 1, 2000 is planning to invest over Rs 10,400 crore in switching equipment and over Rs 3,500 crore in transmission equipment in the next financial year. The corporation also hopes to invest Rs 1,300 crore in Village Public Telephones (VPTs) and Rs 1,100 crore in rural telephony. The indicated budgetary figure for the nationwide cellular project roll-out of 1.5 million lines in 2001-02, is Rs 750 crore. Meanwhile, the corporation is also trying to negotiate as many concessions as possible from the government regarding license fee, tax holiday for five years at par with private operators, and relief on spectrum charges. Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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