Srinagar, Dec 26 (UNI) In view of frequent disturbance of its services due to landslides on the 300-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway following heavy rains and snow, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has proposed to have a standby optical fibre cable diversity via Anantnag-Kokernag-Santhantop-Kishtwar up to Udhampur.

A BSNL spokesman said India's largest telecom operator has already drawn up a proposal to have standby optical fibre cable via Anantnag-Kokernag-Santhantop-Kishtwar up to Udhampur.

A proposal was also with the corporate level for execution to increase the bandwidth between Jammu and Udhampur for immediate media diversity by deploying a new microwave system, he added.

The spokesman also clarified that at 0930 hrs on December 22, optical fibre got cut between Ramban and Banihal, thereby disrupting broadband and internet services of the state-owned operator.

''This was due to heavy landslide on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The repair could not be started until Beacon authorities cleared the debris where the fault had occurred. The team went to the site and started OFC repair work. Simultaneously one more cable got cut between Ramban and Batote at 1200 hrs,'' he added.

Due to this, the spokesman said the media was faulty up to Jammu.

However, the landline and mobile services were functioning normally in microwave and satellite system, he added.

The spokesman said media was partly working up to Jammu but beyond the winter capital also got cut at three places between Pathankot and Jalandhar.

This resulted in media cut between Jammu and Chandigarh and also Jammu and Jalandhar. Chandigarh is the nodal centre for mobile and Jalandhar the main trunk exchange for landline for north India.

''Due to this, the communication system got affected which was beyond the control of BSNL officials,'' he added.

UNI AG PKS KN1827