Plugging STD lines Ulhasnagar way

MUMBAI, November 14: Traders and industrialists in Ulhasnagar have alleged that the Kalyan Telecom Department KTD is forcing new telephone subscribers to opt for STD facility if they want a connection under the state-of-the-art Fetex electronic exchange.

Prominent organisations including Ulhasnagar Telephone Users8217; Association and Vyapari Maha Mandal demanded an inquiry into what they termed as KTD8217;s 8220;monopolisitc8221; practice. They revealed that subscribers who did not want STD facility were allotted connections from the outdated NEC Electro Mechanical Exchange which starts with 78242; level number. Ulhasnagar, one of the major industrial centres with a population of over 7 lakh, is the only city where telephone connections over 35,000 are being served by three different exchanges: the 13-year-old NEC exchange, E-10B electronic exchange and the latest Fetex 150 electronic exchange. The technicians too find it difficult to maintain the uniformity of connections across the exchange.

Consumers pointed out that while the Fetex exchange covers sector 4 and 5, the highly industrialised sectors 1, 2 and 3 are being served by the old exchange 78242; level number. In 1993, the numbers in some parts of sector 1,2, and 3 were transferred from NEC to E-10B. While small townships like Ambernath and Kulgaon are covered by the electronic exchanges, Ulhasnagar residents have been denied the same facilities and 5000 connections are still to be released from the 78242; level exchange to new subscribers. While a demand for a direct dialling facility between Ulhasnagar and MTNL was rejected long ago, areas under the KDMC can access Mumbai by direct dialling.