Chennai Metrowater's website www.chennaimetrowater.com will soon undergo a revamp to sport an improved look and offer more services.
Sources at Metrowater said the work on redesigning the website has begun recently with Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) as nodal agency. The upgraded website, which would be more user friendly, would be commissioned by February or March.
At present, those consumers holding an account in a particular bank can make online payment of tax and charges.
On an average, about 3,000 consumers use the facility every month. In an attempt to increase patronage to the online services, Metrowater has taken the initiative to rope in more banks for the network.
Tenders will soon be floated for choosing an online payment gateway service provider who would facilitate transfer of information between the portal and banks. Consumers now have only the option of payment through credit cards. The revamped website would also provide the choice of payment through debit cards, an official said.
The service provider would also have to manage electronic clearing service where the tax or charge amount to be paid by the consumers are automatically debited from their bank accounts.
Another new addition is the facility to print receipts for tax and charges paid.
“The service would be available also to those who pay at area and depot offices. Receipts of previous payments can also be taken as printouts,” an official said.
SMS service
Metrowater has also planned to send text messages acknowledging tax payment made online. “We have recently introduced a link in the website asking the consumers to register details about address and mobile number to enable us to reach them,” said an official.
Moreover, text messages reminding consumers about the payment of tax arrears is being sent since December. Text messages were sent to 1.5 lakh consumers and this exercise will continue once in a fortnight.
The complaints registered in the website would also be monitored to detect recurring problems in the same streets. This would help to find a permanent solution to the complaints, the official said.
