New Delhi: A routine official visit by a senior official of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to Prayagraj mushroomed into a major controversy after the VIP schedule and detailed hospitality protocol for the trip went viral on social media.
BSNL Director Vivek Banzal was set to visit Prayagraj on February 25 with a rousing reception, including a Sangam bath and post-visit personal care. But the trip was cancelled after the detailed list of arrangements was leaked on social media.
A minute-to-minute schedule has been drawn up for the BSNL director, including visits to religious places and daily logistics, according to an official communication issued on February 18 at the DGM level.
A proper, detailed preparation for a Sangam bath had been planned, including the items used after bathing, like towels, undergarments, a mirror, and personal belongings.
Read the arrangements here:
Top BSNL official visit to Prayagraj: 50 junior officials tasked to ensure everything from luxury to bare essentials – even underwear
Travel itinerary of a top BSNL employee’s trip to Prayagraj gives a sneak peek into how this public sector telecom company went to the dogs. More… pic.twitter.com/EddCJn30Id
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) February 23, 2026
Over 50 BSNL officers and staff members were reportedly assigned duties to avoid inconvenience during the trip. A separate team was formed to look into hospitality, bathing arrangements, and post-visit arrangements.
Officials were directed to arrange bath kits, VIP escort service, and refreshments during the Triveni Sangam and nearby temple visits.
After documents leaked on social media, the BSNL officials came under the radar as they faced backlash, raising questions over public resource utilisation for official visits.
The visit was termed as ‘royal protocol’ and ignited the debate for VIP culture in India.
BSNL trip cancelled after backlash
Following the controversy, with the matter escalated to the higher authorities, BSNL’s official visit to Prayagraj got called off. BSNL Public Relations Officer Ashish Gupta confirmed that the programme had been cancelled and the issued protocol will now be invalid. However, he didn’t make any comment on the ongoing controversy over the arrangements provided to the officials.