After BSNL, over 13,500 MTNL staff opt for VRS

After BSNL, state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) on Wednesday said its VRS plan has surpassed its internal estimates as more than 13,500 employees have opted for the recently-announced scheme so far.

MTNL had initially expected 13,500 employees to opt for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), but the numbers have already reached 13,532 employees, with nearly two weeks left to go before the closing date for exercising the option.

“We have received a strong response; and so far, as many as 13,532 employees have opted for the VRS scheme. Our internal target had been 13,500,” MTNL Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Kumar told PTI. He promised that the corporation will try to accommodate as many employees as possible. “We expect the numbers to reach the range of 14,500 to 15,000 by the closing date,” he said adding that, in all, 16,300 employees are eligible for the scheme.