The 160-year old telegram services started between Kolkata and Diamond Harbour in 1850 will cease to exist from July 15 losing to 21st century’s smarter ways of communication.
 
But the final adieu to the original messenger was not without the emotional manifestations as people made beelines in front of telegraph offices to send their last telegram or taar as it popularly known to preserve it as a souvenir.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to discontinue the service following the losses that the state owned telco is incurring in maintaining the service after the discussion with the department of posts. Before that BSNL had requested the government to financially support the service, but was told to look into the viability of the product and decide if at all it is needed. 
 
BSNL is of the view that in today’s world when SMS, fax and emails are faster means of communication, telegram services have become obsolete.
 
last month BSNL had instructed that telegraph staff members would be deployed to mobile services, landline telephony, broadband services and shifting could take place within the next 3 months.
 
Meanwhile, BSNL employees under the banner of BSNL Employees Union have protested against the decision saying it has been closed down without consulting the recognised unions.

Circle secretary of union Balbir Singh said that contention of BSNL management that the service is being closed down due to losses is not true as the telegraph offices have already been converted into customer service centres where mobile bills, bill deposit, telephone and mobile booking, duplicate bill issue facilities are being provided,”

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