To begin with, the facility is being launched on the levels 26, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 64, 66, 67, 77 and 78, providing service to Chandigarh, S.A.S. Nagar and Panchkula. According to Principal General Manager, Telecom, Prithipal Singh, those who want to avail of the service will have to give an application to the commercial officer concerned. There are four commercial officers in the Chandigarh Telecom District -- one each for north, south, Panchkula and S.A.S. Nagar. One-time processing charges of Rs 50 will be levied for providing the facility. Thereafter, a monthly rent of Rs 50 will be charged for the purpose. Singh added that this facility is "another first of its kind service" in Chandigarh.

Officials specify that for availing the facility, either a new kind of instrument will be required or a special equipment that can be attached to the existing telephone. This new kind of instrument or the attachment will have a display panel on which the number of the telephone from which the call is coming will be indicated automatically. Officials add that the subscriber will have to purchase the instrument or the attachment; it will not be provided by the department. It is learnt that this instrument or the attachment is not available locally and inquiries may have to be made for it in metropolitan cities.

With this facility, subscribers who face the problem of objectionable or "blank" calls will be able to trace them. They will also have the choice of taking or not taking a particular call once its number is displayed.

The department had earlier launched a special directory inquiry facility. By dialling "1961", one could punch the telephone number to get the address of the person or alternatively, punch in the address to get the telephone number of the person. In this way, once the telephone number of the objectionable call is traced, one will also be able to easily get the address of the person. This will be of considerable help to the Chandigarh Police and the Fire Department.