BSNL Director Vivek Banzal Issued Notice Over Prayagraj Trip

Here’s Why the Centre Issued a Show-Cause Notice to BSNL’s Vivek Banzal Over a Viral ‘Royal Itinerary’

In a swift crackdown on bureaucratic entitlement, the Union Ministry of Communications has issued a formal show-cause notice to BSNL Director Vivek Banzal following the leak of a controversial travel itinerary.

This 21-point plan showed a fancy two-day trip to Prayagraj. It used 50 staff members for personal chores like prepping baths and buying clothes. Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia called the plan ‘shocking’ and ‘improper.’ Banzal has seven days to explain why he used public resources this way.

A ‘Comfort Plan’ That Went Viral

The trouble started when a secret office paper from 19 February appeared on social media. It showed a strict schedule for Vivek Banzal, the Director of Consumer Fixed Access. He planned to visit on 25 and 26 February.

This plan was not about work. It was a ‘comfort plan’ that was used by many engineers and officers. They had to decorate buildings with white lime powder and book private boats. They even had to buy ‘snan kits’ for ritual bathing.

The leaked paper says 50 workers had 20 different jobs to do. They had to make eight bathing kits for men and women, which included towels, combs, mirrors, and even undergarments. According to the Hindustan Times, the order was very detailed. It even told staff to put ‘new white towels’ on the seats of the expensive SUVs used for the trip.

What Happens to the 50 Officials Pulled from Public Service?

The main focus is on BSNL Director Vivek Banzal, but there is a bigger problem. Fifty workers were taken away from their real jobs, who were engineers and technical staff. BSNL is currently trying hard to launch 4G and 5G services. These 50 people lost over 800 hours of work time to help one boss. This means local customers might have faced slower repairs or network problems while the staff was busy.

These workers were not doing technical tasks; they were acting like personal servants. They had to check on the bath water and stock cars with juice and chocolate. This hurts the people who pay for BSNL services. The staff who should fix internet faults were instead focused on a VIP trip.

This incident shows that the time of ‘VIP culture’ in public companies is ending. By sending this notice, the government is protecting taxpayer money. BSNL needs to focus on helping customers, instead of pampering bosses. The company needs to change its old habits to win against private companies.