"Identical factors are not there legally for BSNL-MTNL merger," Communication and IT Minister A Raja said on Monday when asked if there was a possibility of amalgamation of the state-run operators.
Publicly listed MTNL provides telecom services in Delhi and Mumbai, while BSNL serves the rest of India.
On plans to list BSNL in the bourses, Raja said the management has been advised to initiate talks with the employees union.
Estimates suggest that BSNL is worth $100 billion and dilution of 10 per cent stake would help the company raise $10 billion.
On BSNL's plans to add a staggering 93 million GSM lines, Raja said he would review the process and ensure full transparency in the tender exercise.
Asked whether he would ask BSNL not to place orders till such a review was completed, the Minister said: "Let me first go through the files and only then can I take a decision. But I would not like to interfere with day-to-day functioning in the PSUs."
