BSNL auctioning lands in AP to raise resources

Vijayawada: AP Telecom Circle of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is monetising three of its land parcels in Andhra Pradesh. It will auction these properties starting with a reserve price of ₹35.15 crore.

The land parcels it has identified are 6,377 square metres of vacant land in Tuni at a reserved price of ₹12.94 crore, 4,180 square metres store yard compound in Palakollu spread across at a reserved price of ₹11.19 crore, and 6,000 square metres telephone exchange compound in Kondapalli at a reserved price of ₹11.02 crore.

BSNL AP Telecom Circle chief general manager (CGM) M. Seshachalam said lands are being monetised as part of a plan to revive BSNL. He said these lands have become surplus due to evolution of new technologies and miniaturisation of equipment.

Individuals, consortiums, government organisations, realtors, industrialists, educational institutions, hospitals, trusts and NGOs are among those invited to participate in the bidding of encumbrance-free lands located in prime locations of AP.

Seshachalam said the auction will be conducted in two stages. Online bid submission has already started and will close at 3 p.m. on July 1. Following the online bid submission, physical auctioning of lands will commence and the highest bidder will be awarded the lands.

During the previous financial year, AP BSNL circle monetised two land parcels in Vijayawada and Tedepalligudem and earned ₹40 crore.

The CGM disclosed that BSNL has identified total 27 lands across AP for monetisation.

He underlined that upgradation of 4G network, which is underway at 4,500 locations in the state using indigenous technologies, will be completed by the year end. Thereafter, the network will transition to 5G with software upgradation that will be completed in another six months.