'Shocking, improper': Centre issues show-cause notice over BSNL director's Prayagraj itinerary

The government on Wednesday reacted to the ongoing controversy surrounding a senior BSNL director named Vivek Banzal, whose scheduled trip to Prayagraj was recently cancelled.

Union Minister of Communication Jyotiraditya Scindia took strong objection to the BSNL official's lavish and detailed itinerary for the two-day trip and said that a show-cause notice has been issued to him, with a seven-day response time.

“I have made it very clear that this is improper and a violation of established rules and traditions. It is unacceptable to me. It is shocking,” Scindia said, as quoted by news agency ANI, adding that appropriate action will be taken in this regard.

50 officials assigned, 8 bath kits arranged

Vivek Banzal, reportedly an '87 batch telecommunication service officer, with over 35 years of experience, is the Director (Consumer Fixed Access – CFA) at BSNL. His travel plan for the February 25–26 trip to Prayagraj recently went viral, for the all wrong reasons.

What caught the eye of users on social media were the extremely elaborate arrangements for his 2-day stay in the city.

According to the 21-point document that circulated online, nearly 50 officials, ranging from junior technical officers and engineers to sub-divisional and divisional engineers, were assigned at his service for the trip.

From a bath at the Sangam to visits to the Hanuman Temple, Akshayavat and Patalpuri Temple, the order had detailed arrangements for it all to ensure Banzal's “comfort management" during his stay.

Details included arrangements for hair oil, underwear, combs, toothpaste, brushes, shaving kits and slippers. Eight bath kits were reportedly arranged, six for men and two for women, and one senior official was in-charge of overseeing post bath arrangements, HT has learnt.

Itinerary draws big backlash, BSNL reacts

Vivek Banzal's travel order soon went viral, drawing huge backlash online with people questioning if the trip was official or were public resources were being used for personal leisure.

The trip was cancelled a day before schedule and BSNL also reacted to the controversy, saying that the incident was not in line with its professional standards and values. “Appropriate action has been taken against the concerned. Further instructions have been issued reiterating strict adherence to extant guidelines. BSNL employees are reminded to comply fully with prescribed conduct rules and instructions in this regard,” a part of BSNL's statement read.