Pune hoteliers, traders lose business

Even as BSNL has suspended incoming calls to its landline subscribers from private telecom operators over non-payment of dues, consumers are complaining that they are caught in the middle of the bitter battle and suffering immensely for it.

On October 18, DNA had carried a story ‘Emergency services get ‘no’ calls’ on problems that hospitals, ambulance services and even fire brigade officials were facing due to suspension of interconnectivity service.

As the stalemate between the telecom companies continues, hoteliers and other traders say the adverse effect on their daily business is beginning to show. Ganesh Shetty, president of Pune Restaurants and Hoteliers Association and owner of Hotel Kalinga, said that restaurant business was badly affected as incoming calls had largely dropped.

“I have three landline numbers for home delivery and all are BSNL numbers. My home delivery business has reduced by 80-90%. Instead of 30-40 deliveries, we have been getting 3-5 orders daily. This is not exaggeration and many hoteliers have complained to me of facing similar problems. We are facing losses for no fault of ours because of this tussle,” complained Shetty.

Aditi Khatau, proprietor of Dial-a-Meal food delivery service that delivers food from 60 restaurants in Pune, said that number of orders have gone down by 40%.

“Restaurants have been supportive by taking orders on our behalf and we have alternate landline and mobile numbers on which customers are calling. But the BSNL landline was popular with customers and many had only that number, which is why business is affected,’’ she said.

Even daily chores have become difficult, complained citizens who are finding it difficult to even order groceries or gas cylinders.

Sarita Pardesi, a resident of Kubera Colony on NIBM Road, spoke of her ordeal to order a gas cylinder.

“The gas cylinder delivery company has a BSNL number and we don’t have a landline phone. I wanted to book a new cylinder but I couldn’t do it. I had to go around in the housing society asking for help in booking the cylinder through a landline,’’ she said.

Magaram Choudhary, who runs Moga Super Market in Kondhwa, said he had to send grocery delivery boys to housing societies to collect orders as calls from customers had dropped.

“I have barely received any home delivery calls and customers have started coming to the shop to complain,” he said.