In a significant boost to the government’s asset monetization programme, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has listed 27 land parcels for sale across 11 states and Union Territories. Records show these parcels include telephone exchanges, vacant land, administrative buildings, and staff quarters. The properties are located in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. BSNL invited bids for these parcels through an e-tender followed by an e-auction, as per a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued on May 16, 2024. A pre-bid virtual meeting for all parcels is scheduled for June 3, 2024. The combined reserve price for these 27 parcels is Rs 476 crore.
In addition to these, BSNL has identified over 500 more land parcels and buildings across several states, intending to sell them in the coming days. These properties cover approximately 1 crore square meters. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), another state-run telecom operator, has also prepared a list of properties for sale in Delhi and Mumbai. This move follows Union Telecom Secretary Neeraj Mittal’s letter to all secretaries and chief secretaries of ministries and government departments, urging them to leverage the “outright” sale of BSNL properties.
The Union Cabinet approved the revival plan for BSNL and MTNL in 2019, which includes monetizing surplus land and buildings. BSNL’s assets are spread across the country, while MTNL’s properties are primarily located in Delhi and Mumbai, often in prime locations. Mittal highlighted that a dedicated website has been developed to list all BSNL/MTNL properties available for sale. He requested wide publicity of this website within various government departments, PSUs, and organizations to facilitate direct sales from PSUs to government entities.
