The project entails installation of new Village Public Terminals (VPTs) between 01.04.02 and 30.06.03 in replacement of Multi Access Radio Relay (MARR) VPTs followed by their operation & maintenance. M/s BSNL was the Universal Service Provider (USP) of the project. The agreement with BSNL was signed in March 2004. The project was made effective on 1st April 2002 with a validity of 8 years and 3 months from 01.04.2002. 

The subsidy was payable as and when MARR VPT was replaced with a functional VPT made functional. The Universal Service Provider could change the location of VPTs to provide better access to the public within the same village. However no subsidy support was extended by Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund for relocating the VPTs, against the expenditure incurred on relocation.

The USP was responsible for the provision and operation of necessary equipment and systems, treatment of subscriber complaints, collection of call charges and the issue of receipt thereof, & attending to claims and damages arising out of operations.

Roll Out

The subsidy from the USOF was disbursed in four quarterly installments during each financial year. Each installment shall be disbursed quarterly in arrears. In case the total amount disbursed for a financial year based on quarterly self-assessment claims of the USP results in excess payment by more than 10% of the actual subsidy due to him, the entire amount of excess payment shall be recovered along with an interest at the prime lending rate of State Bank of India prevalent on the day the respective disbursement was made.

In cases of faults for more than 7 days in a quarter, the subsidy shall be deducted proportionately for the total number of days the VPT remained faulty during the quarter.

With effect from the quarter ending 30.09.2004, VPTs that remain disconnected on account of non-payment and VPTs that register no incremental meter reading during the entire quarter shall not qualify for any subsidy support for that quarter (vide letter no. 30-101/2002-USF dt 14.09.04).

Claims from QE December 2007 onwards should contain a list of NIMR/Closed/DNP VPTs (vide letter no. 1-1/2007-USOF dated 19th November 2007).

Subsidy claims from QE June 2008 onwards should be certified by the concerned GM/DGM (TR) to the effect that information furnished in the claim tallies with the billing record (vide USO letter no. 1-1/2008-USOF dated 6th May 2008).

 

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