Wednesday, December 29 2004 21:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Union IT and Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran today (Dec 29, 2004) reviewed the measures taken to restore communication links in the tsunami-hit areas even as BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) said telecom facilities in these areas had been restored.

Maran, who was briefed by senior officers of Department of telecom and the CMD of BSNL, directed officials to give top priority to the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

He has asked BSNL to charge normal STD charges instead of satellite tariff, which is comparatively much higher, for calls and has directed that the telephones in the tsunami-affected areas should not be disconnected for non-payment of bills, an official update said.

In the Andaman & Nicobar circles, five telephone exchanges-- Diglipur, Kalighat Kalera, Kishori Nagar and Ram Nagar have been restored.

Five INMARSAT terminals have been airlifted to the islands and ten more are being rushed to be used as public telephones in places where telecom services have been disrupted because of the natural disaster.