MTNL is the top gainer on the BSE since the morning; the stock, which had closed yesterday at Rs.26.15, opened higher today at Rs.27.50 and went up to an intraday high at Rs.30.50, not far from its 20% UC of the day at Rs.31.35.

The Govt yesterday deferred the merger of BSNL and MTNL due to due financial reasons which include the high debt of MTNL.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for communication Devusinh Chauhan told the Parliament that the government was however considering a proposal for the merger of Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and BSNL.