To tackle the vexatious problem of contractors collecting more charges than specified for GVMC kalyanamantapams in the city, the municipal corporation has decided to streamline the system and make the payment and booking online.
With necessary software and other arrangements set to be in place by the month-end, the system is expected to take effect on July 1.
“The fee particulars and the contact number will be displayed at the respective kalyanamantapams and those who want to book the mantapam have to come to the main office. While zone offices will monitor, payment and allotment will be made at the main office,” Municipal Commissioner M V Satyanarayana said here on Tuesday.
A total of 36 kalyanamantapams will be available for people for booking. Though the kalyanamantapams are meant to help the poor and the middle class use them for functions, mainly marriages, allegations about collection of exorbitant charges by those who get them in auction from the corporation abound. Besides, “packages” that include food, decoration and furniture are charged on marriage parties. For lack of venues, the marriage parties are compelled to take the “package.” Long lease of Subbalakshmi Kalyanamantapam and other such centrally located big venues had become a raging controversy at general body meetings of the corporation.
Those running the kalyanamantapams put up display boards on tariff and other details for a brief while when the corporation authorities insisted. Many did not even display the boards or the contact numbers for booking the mantapam. While the services were not up to the mark, three to four times the regular charges were collected from hapless parties for functions.
