Paying utility bills is set to get easier for those residing in New Delhi area as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is mulling over launching a smart card for the same. The common smart card can be used to pay parking, water and electricity bills anywhere in the NDMC area. Besides, the same card shall also be used to procure water from kiosks which the civic agency is going to roll out within two months.
The civic agency is planning to introduce the smart card first for its parking areas which it recently handed over to the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS). Following the tune of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), it is also planning to give 10 per cent discount to card holders so that more people shift to using them. The civic body is also planning to make a provision to make it possible to recharge the smart card online. “Parking attendants will be given handheld devices where users will have to swipe their cards. Cardholders can recharge them at a minimum rate of Rs 100 and also get a 10 per cent discount at parking facilities. We are planning to start the facility at all our parking lots and are also considering an online recharge system. Based on the response from people, we shall expand to other fields,” said a senior NDMC official.
Apart from parking charges, other areas where the agency is planning to expand are for paying property tax, electricity, water bills and barat ghar bookings, besides, cardholders can pay school fees. “This might also extend for shopping in a few of our markets. A few shops in Khan Market and Connaught Place have expressed interest and will provide the facility to shoppers to simply swipe the smart card towards payment,” said a senior official of NDMC.