Lack of accountability among the officials and mismanagement has pushed the broadband subscribers availing BSNL services in Bhaderwah town to the edge. Inability of the government owned cellular service provider to meet emerging challenges has given an upper hand to private players as many people have shifted to other networks. Bhaderwah residents are facing immense difficulties due to the poor service being provided by BSNL as from the last two days there is no BSNL broadband network and concerned authorities are in deep slumber. Subscribers have approached the concerned authorities on many occasions but they only make excuses to hide their misdeeds. At Bhaderwah after three-four attempts even if a consumer succeeds in connecting to the other end, he rues the fate as invariably it turns out to be a one-way call. And if luckily one is able to talk, the call drop within a minute. At times, consumers are required to make four to five attempts to complete a call at Bhaderwah town. In fact, BSNL mobile and landline subscriber base is declining broadband subscribers are also not matching the pace of private players. Similar is the case with broadband. Not only the internet speed in Bhaderwah for the last four months is slow but one has to wait for five to 10 minutes to see his mail through and from two days there is no broadband service. Downloading a small video file from any streaming video websites takes hours and trying to watch a video online is impossible. Local Sheikh Masood Ahmed, said, it is unfortunate that despite BSNL having a vast infrastructural facility is not able to satisfy its consumers, while private telecom service providers are providing much better services to its consumers though they are not so equipped. “Dejected with the BSNL broadband services, many people have kept a separate cell phone of a private company for communications officials should either change their attitude or be branded as a turncoat for damaging the reputation of a public sector company,” he added. Inferior equipment used by the BSNL for its operational needs has added to the woes of the subscribers in Bhaderwah area. The situation in regard to cell phone service of BSNL is worse. The poor signal, non availability of tower network most of the time, frequent disconnection during conversation, lack of voice clarity and poor audibility has forced thousands of customers to bid farewell to BSNL and to choose private players. “BSNL broadband has become more of a liability than an asset,” said Yudvir Singh Thakur, demanded immediate attention of state government. It is also worthwhile to mention here that owing to poor service and maintenance, the strength of BSNL land lines and cell phones in Bhaderwah has got reduced from thousands to hundreds and landline remains only the choice of the corporate, executives, and business houses. BSNL office in Bhaderwah is also defunct as staff always remains absent. When this reporter contacted a BSNL official on cell his number, his mobile was switched off.
