LUDHIANA: In order to bring more transparency in the system, and implement Digital India, MC authorities are going to start every kind of payment through the digital method. Already, swipe machines have been installed in two zones for payment of taxes, and now even payments to contractors will be through e-payment starting this week. The basic purpose of this step is to conduct paperless transactions. Moreover, under the Smart City Mission, MC will get a good ranking if they implement digital payments.
When MC becomes able to pay contractors through digital means, there will be far less chance of financial goof-ups. Moreover, cash payments at MC offices will be totally done away with, and people will get e-Pos(electronic point of sale) machines for payments to the civic body. Civic officials have been given 100 days to go for complete
cashless transactions in MC.
Additional commissioner
Sanyam Aggarwal said they had already installed payment machines in the Suvidha centres, and very shortly they will start making payments to contractors online. He said they were also trying to start digital transactions during field recoveries, as when their employees go for
recovery of dues from the public, they will be asked to carry swipe machines along and receive payments through debit and credit cards.
Sources revealed it would help bring transparency in the system, and problems being faced by the general public at the time of making payments at MC offices will also come to an end. Harpreet Singh, a resident of Sarabha Nagar, said: “I usually carry cash along with me, so it is good if they get the facility of swipe machines at MC offices.” He said the civic body had installed machines earlier also, but those machines were not
found functional and were removed from the Suvidha centre.
Echoing a similar opinion, Rajguru Nagar resident BM Kalia said it would also help in quick transactions, as in the case of cash payments earlier, people were seen counting notes, and then employees at the cash counter were also supposed to count the money — all of which will come to an end with e-payments. He said there would also be relief from arguments with employees over small change.
