Vodafone Idea’s AGR Dues Frozen at ₹87,695 Crore; Telco to Pay ₹124 Crore Annually Until 2031
Structured repayment plan over a decade and AGR freeze provide relief to debt-laden Vodafone Idea
New Delhi, Jan 09— Vodafone Idea on Friday confirmed that the government has frozen its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, providing significant relief to the financially stressed telecom operator.
In an official exchange filing, the company said it will begin paying a maximum of ₹124 crore annually from March 2026 to March 2031. Following this, the telco will pay ₹100 crore per year from March 2032 to March 2035.
The freeze comes after reports that the Centre had capped Vodafone Idea’s AGR liability at ₹87,695 crore, covering principal, interest, and interest on penalties for the period FY 2006-07 to FY 2018-19, and extended the repayment timeline.
The filing also noted that the remaining AGR dues, after reassessment, will be paid in equal annual instalments over six years, from March 2036 to March 2041. “A committee is to be constituted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to reassess the AGR dues, whose decision shall be final. Thereafter, the reassessed amount is to be repaid between March 2036 and March 2041 in equal annual instalments,” the company said.
The development follows the government’s fresh relief package, which allows Vodafone Idea a structured repayment plan over a decade starting FY 2031-32. The move also comes in the wake of a Supreme Court verdict that enabled the government to reassess and reconcile Vodafone Idea’s AGR dues up to FY 2016-17, paving the way for recalibration of the telco’s long-standing liabilities.
The Centre currently holds a 49% stake in Vodafone Idea, highlighting the government’s active role in supporting the telecom sector during ongoing financial challenges.
