Digitalization and online services have been introduced for facilitating the citizens, but in the State Electricity department, they have become hurdles for the customers. In the State electricity offices, in the name of online facility, the customers face problems as they have to visit the office at least three times, if they require temporary connection for house construction. In a similar case related to Mini Sharma at the Vidya Nagar sub-station, despite having completed the formalities, the officials stated that to complete the process, GIS is required. The person who deals with the GIS software told that there is server problem generally, the works are done with slow pace and it take at least one hour to complete one file. Manager at the office Vishwash Kelkar told that without GIS, the desired fees cannot be deposited. Finally, it took more than six hours to complete the GIS process. The next day, after having deposited the desired fees, when contacted on phone, Kelkar bluntly said, “I’m out of station and cannot tell when the she would get the connection.” Even the lineman who remained present at the office claimed that he was overloaded with the work and cannot complete the task.
At a time, when the whole country is going digital for the facility of the citizens, the electricity company in the State capital is harassing the people in the name of online facility.
For the temporary electricity connection at a construction site, one requires to submit documents like- plot registration papers, building permission certificate and the map approved by the BMC, a notary affidavit, electricity connection form etc. There is no process of submitting these documents online and no facility of depositing cash online. Executive Engineer of the Electricity Board Rajesh Naik was not available for comment on his mobile number- 9406902062.