Centre likely to relax some norms for asset sale of BSNL, MTNL

Government-appointed consultants were asked to determine changes that are needed to be made

The Centre is considering relaxing some norms that led to the failure in attracting bids for assets of Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) as they look to restart the auction for their non-core assets.

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) had listed six properties of BSNL and MTNL for sale through its new e-bidding portal, developed by state-run MSTC, but the auction failed to garner an adequate interest.

DIPAM had asked government-appointed property consultants to identify issues in the bidding criteria for resolution.

Some of the conditions for monetising these assets will be relaxed, an official