Asset monetisation: Centre lists 600 BSNL, MTNL land parcels, buildings for sale

Over 600 land parcels and buildings owned by public sector telecom companies Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) across India are up for sale. While properties are offered through outright sale to government departments and other PSUs (public sector undertakings), they will be put up for auction for private entities. Most of the properties are in prime locations.

BSNL has an asset base spread over the country, while MTNL properties are located in Delhi and Mumbai. The listed properties include MTNL's Central Administration Building at C R Marg, Fort, Mumbai and an office building in Connaught Place near fire brigade office, Delhi. BSNL's building in Santacruz (W) Mumbai and Dinrose Telephone Exchange building in Anna Salai, Chennai are among the properties identified for sale.

BSNL has developed a dedicated website that contains the list of all properties that are offered for sale by the two PSUs across the country.

According to the dedicated website to facilitate asset monetisation, there are 531 BSNL properties across India for sale. In the case of MTNL it is 119. In addition to the list of properties for sale, the website also provides details of hundreds of vacant building spaces that are offered on rent in premises situated at prime locations of various Department of Telecommunication (DoT) offices all over India. The land and building portal developed and maintained by BSNL facilitates DoT and its PSU organisations to upload details about the vacant space proposed to be rented by them.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the secretaries of all central government departments and chief secretaries of the states on May 21, Neeraj Mittal, secretary, DoT wanted all government organisations in need of such properties to avail the benefit from the scheme of direct sale from PSU to government organisation.

The letter said that the decision to monetise the surplus land and building assets of BSNL and MTNL was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2019 as part of the revival plan for the two PSUs. The department has also provided the details of government representatives who can be contacted by the central, state government, PSU, autonomous bodies to facilitate the outright sale process.

The department had issued notices for sale of land parcels earlier also.