The Hindu : 'Sevak' to facilitate water bill payment round the clock

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

'Sevak' to facilitate water bill payment round the clock

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE April 25. Honest consumers tired of standing in long queues for long hours to pay their water bills may not have to suffer for long. The Bangalore Water Supply Board (BWSSB) will put `Sevak' at their service.

Now, this is a machine which will accept cash round the clock, and "is the first in Asia", according to the BWSSB Chairman, M.N. Vidyashankar. In a week's time, the machine will be operational at the Jayanagar shopping complex (4th Block).

Its performance will be observed for two months, and "if it works flawlessly, we will put 100 such in the City by December 2003,'' Mr. Vidyashankar promises.

The first machine is to arrive on Monday. Imported from Germany and supplied by Tata Infotech, it will be given to BWSSB "free of cost".

The others come at a hefty price tag of between Rs. 4.5 lakh to and Rs. 5 lakh each. "The board and the company could bear the costs equally for one or two years,'' Mr. Vidyashankar says. This aspect is being worked out. `Sevak', says the BWSSB, will accept cash, cheques, DD, and credit cards. "You can have multiple payment on a single bill — pay half the amount in cash, and the rest by cheque or card. Or, pay multiple bills through one cheque/DD.''

This means that members of residents' associations can now pay bills in bulk. For example, through a Rs. 10,000 cheque for 100 bills.

Mr. Vidyashankar describes `Sevak' as "more sophisticated than an ATM (automatic teller machine).'' He adds that all if the first machine is successful, the existing cash counters will be converted into those which accept cash round the clock.

And, naturally, since the machine will handle large amounts of cash, there will be visible security around the place. Each customer who pays his or her bill through `Sevak' will get a receipt and an update on current account status. Technology will then take the place of aching limbs!

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