Bengaluru: With incessant rains, the BESCOM helplines have been flooded with phone calls and the current lines are not able to take the load. Hence the authorities have now planned to introduce 15 more lines shortly at their corporate office.
Speaking with Deccan Chronicle, N. Jayanti, General Manager, Customer Relations (BESCOM) said, “We have been receiving continuous calls of late due to the rains which result in preventive maintenance work by KPTCL and BESCOM and tree cutting, hence the lines remain busy all the time. So, we have decided to add 15 more lines at our corporate office in a matter of 3-4 months. Currently we have 30 lines. I would urge the people to SMS their queries whenever they find the lines busy. They can send their SMSes to 58888.” She added, “The awareness about the helpline has grown tremendously and the demand is now more. Hence the decision to add more lines.”
Frequent power cuts due to rains, maintenance work and grid failure has been causing great inconvenience to the people of Bengaluru. And the BESCOM helpline number 1912, which was touted to be a one-stop grievance cell for all queries pertaining to power supply, is not able to serve the purpose, as the helplines remain difficult to connect during times of crisis.
Banni B, a resident from HSR Layout says, “When my effort to reach BESCOM failed I contacted a friend of mine who is working with BESCOM. He sent me the contact of the concerned Assistant Engineer. So I got in touch with him and he informed me about the issue going on there and gave me the specific time when power would be restored.”
Voicing a similar opinion Hemanth Kumar, a resident of C V Raman Nagar says, “I have tired the helpline number of BESCOM on three occasions recently and I have been disappointed. You cannot expect the helpline to work when it rains but otherwise too, it has not been responding.” He further questions, “What is the use of a helpline number if it cannot help the consumers?”
