Revamped SCB website to be operational in a month

To promote transparency and usher in convenience, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board is planning to launch its revamped website, replete with online payment options.

Residents of the Secunderabad Cantonment have to queue up at the board office to pay tax, water bills, avail water tankers and to pay arrears. All other communication with the board, including redress of grievances, are mainly done in the cantonment office.

The burden on both the citizens and staff was slightly reduced when a telephone helpline was launched earlier this year but a website that allows online payment and also reveals the workings of the board, is expected to prove beneficial for residents and the cantonment administration.

“The new website is being developed with secure payment options for all municipal services offered. Barring a few technical issues, the website is ready. We expect it to become fully operational in a month,” an official said, adding that the appearance of the new website wouldn’t be very different from the existing website. He did not wish to be identified.

Those in the know say that the website was long due as it was conceived a decade ago when the then administration dreamed up e-governance as an alternative to conventional administration. Officials say trials with ApOnline and its subsequent inadequacies helped realise that a website with a dedicated payment gateway was the need of the hour.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is helping SCB set up its portal – the domain address of which has not been finalised yet.

For citizens, the website could prove beneficial as it paves the way for timely delivery of services with little effort.