Telephone booths slowly vanishingFew Takers
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In the age of affordable mobile phones, public telephone booths are fast disappearing from the City. DH photo
In the age of affordable mobile phones, public telephone booths are fast disappearing from the City.
The plight of those who own these has worsened with people using fake coins to make calls. The reduced size of one-rupee coins has added to the problem. Citizens say that these booths are a must in the City but owners confess that they are running at a loss.
Pushpa, a resident of Cox Town, who put up a booth just a month ago, now wants to surrender it.
“The number of fake coins and washers are causing me a lot of worry. I recover at least 50 to 100 fake coins a month,” she says.
Senthil Raju, who sells newspapers and runs a petty shop in Koramangala, says, “Everybody owns a cell phone. So, nobody really uses public telephone booths unless they run out of currency. Also, finding the right one-rupee coin is a challenge these days,” he says.
Ordinary people note that they sometimes miss having these telephone booths around and hope that there would be more.
Since the size of the one-rupee coin has also changed, people say they have a tough time finding these coins.
“If you lose your phone or if the phone has no charge, these booths are the only ones you can turn to,” she reasons.
Sooriya, a student, thinks a couple of factors are responsible for the closure of public booths.
“Forget, finding the right kind of one-rupee coin, it’s hard to find change these days and there aren’t enough booths. The existing ones sometimes don’t work. Telephone booths are few and far between.”
The plight of those who own these has worsened with people using fake coins to make calls. The reduced size of one-rupee coins has added to the problem. Citizens say that these booths are a must in the City but owners confess that they are running at a loss.
Metrolife finds out if there is a need to reinstate the disappearing one-rupee coin booths in the City.
Public telephone booth owners across the City admit that their equipment is not being used much nowadays.
Most of them even say that they are still in business because of the investment they have put in it.
Moreover, these booths now face threat from other quarters — unscrupulous elements who use fake coins and washers instead of one-rupee coins to make calls, robbers who break into them for the paltry money they hold and the new one-rupee coins, which are too small and don’t fit the standards required to make a call.
Moreover, these booths now face threat from other quarters — unscrupulous elements who use fake coins and washers instead of one-rupee coins to make calls, robbers who break into them for the paltry money they hold and the new one-rupee coins, which are too small and don’t fit the standards required to make a call.
Fake coins made of steel are not hard to procure.
There are several places in Shivajinagar, Kalasipalyam and Godown Street, near KR Market, where these coins are made to order.
“We get orders to make coins that suit the shape of a one-rupee coin on a regular basis. People don’t really mind paying Rs 5 or even Rs 10 a piece because these coins can be recycled and reused,” says Ustad Pasha, a coin-maker in Shivajinagar.
He adds, “You just have to cut steel to fit the size and diameter. And people are willing to get these made.”
There are several places in Shivajinagar, Kalasipalyam and Godown Street, near KR Market, where these coins are made to order.
“We get orders to make coins that suit the shape of a one-rupee coin on a regular basis. People don’t really mind paying Rs 5 or even Rs 10 a piece because these coins can be recycled and reused,” says Ustad Pasha, a coin-maker in Shivajinagar.
He adds, “You just have to cut steel to fit the size and diameter. And people are willing to get these made.”
People, who run public telephone booths, observe that they recover not less than 100 fake coins a month from the booth.
Pushpa, a resident of Cox Town, who put up a booth just a month ago, now wants to surrender it.
“The number of fake coins and washers are causing me a lot of worry. I recover at least 50 to 100 fake coins a month,” she says.
Senthil Raju, who sells newspapers and runs a petty shop in Koramangala, says, “Everybody owns a cell phone. So, nobody really uses public telephone booths unless they run out of currency. Also, finding the right one-rupee coin is a challenge these days,” he says.
Ordinary people note that they sometimes miss having these telephone booths around and hope that there would be more.
Since the size of the one-rupee coin has also changed, people say they have a tough time finding these coins.
Shruti, a youngster who is currently preparing for civil services examination, says, “I think public telephone booths are slowly disappearing. You find them only in railway stations and at bus stands. The small one-rupee coins just don’t work in the existing coin booths.”
Megha, a professional, thinks public booths are a necessity, whether people use them or not.
Megha, a professional, thinks public booths are a necessity, whether people use them or not.
“If you lose your phone or if the phone has no charge, these booths are the only ones you can turn to,” she reasons.
Sooriya, a student, thinks a couple of factors are responsible for the closure of public booths.
“Forget, finding the right kind of one-rupee coin, it’s hard to find change these days and there aren’t enough booths. The existing ones sometimes don’t work. Telephone booths are few and far between.”