Odisha govt yet to clear Rs 28.54 crore pending BSNL bill despite reminders

The Odisha government has failed to clear its outstanding telephone bills despite the Ministry of Communications sending multiple reminder letters, including three in recent months by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. 

According to official records, as of December 31, 2025, state government departments and affiliated organisations together owe Rs 28.54 crore to the debt-laden public sector telecom operator.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Mr. Scindia said, “BSNL plays a vital role in providing telecom services across the country, especially in rural and remote areas. It supports key government departments, including the armed forces, and serves numerous banks and institutions.”

“With its wide network and strong presence, BSNL remains a reliable and trusted service provider for delivering citizen-centric services. Given BSNL’s financial stress, the Government of India has approved revival packages in 2019, 2022 and 2023 to support its viability and competitiveness,” he added.

“Despite this, the company needs steady cash flows for routine operations and modernization of its telecom infrastructure. As on December 31, 2025, Rs 28.54 crores remains outstanding from departments and organizations under the State of Odisha,” mentioned the Union Minister. 

According to a report of The Hindu, the Information and Public Relations Department has the highest outstanding amount at Rs 8.59 crore, followed by the Law Department with dues of Rs 4.42 crore. Several other departments, including Education, Finance, Health and Family Welfare, Home and Rural Development, also owe over Rs 1 crore each.

While some departments cleared part of their dues after a reminder issued in November, reducing their pending dues, while some telephone dues are still unpaid. Odisha’s total pending telephone dues were estimated at ₹80 crore in May 2025, reflecting long-standing payment delays.