TNI Bureau: In an era of mobile phone and high technology, very few are using public phone booth. However, if you want to make a call from a PCO in Mumbai, you need to carry ID proof. The new law surprised many people, but it is mandatory and has been issued to curb the prank calls, black-mailing and calls made for extortion.

According to Mumbai police order, the booth operator needs to maintain a register, note down details like name, address and number of the person to whom the call was made.

Police said that many anti-social people and gangsters use PCO booths to make calls or threatening calls. Since the crime is on the rise in the city, such initiative will somehow cut the menace of prank calls.

However, the move has been highly criticised by few and booth operators as they are also involved in other business. According to them, it is a difficult task to maintain a register while looking after other business. Even many PCOs are located near the hospitals and Railway stations where people used to make urgent call. However, they will be the sufferer as they cannot keep ID proof all the time with them.