The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will soon start pay points at various locations within its limits.

Under this Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) project, one can pay utility bills or property tax. All corporation ward offices will have the Internet connectivity. The wireless web service will be available. It will cost around Rs2.25 lakh.

At present, the civic body accepts such bills at the Citizen Facilitation Centre (CFC). Later, it will set up pay points separately in different areas. "These pay points will enable people to pay utility bills and dues to the civic body.

They need not visit the PCMC headquarters every time," said municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma.
The PCMC already has an online payment system where people can pay their property tax, water tax among others.

According to him, although the PCMC has started online payments, there are people who do not have the Internet facility. "The pay points will be helpful for such people. Even a shopkeeper can participate in this scheme by installing a pay point terminal at his shop," Sharma added.

The civic chief added there are 19 pay points. "But we want to increase their number to make it easy for people to access one in their locality. We are just trying to decentralise the process to make it more convenient for citizens," he added. According to him, public utilities such as BSNL and MSEDCL can get integrated with the project to make it a one-stop payment centre.

Pay point operators will get a certain commission for running them. Footfalls will also increase at their shops, Sharma said.