Bhubaneswar: September 04: Smart card based common payment system for smart city of Bhubaneswar has been fast tracked. Target has been set to commission the project by 1st January, 2018. This was discussed in the Empowered Committee Meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi in secretariat conference hall today wherein Principal Secretary PPP projects Pradeep Kumar Jena outlined the issues for discussion and the Vice Chairman BDA Krishan Kumar presented the updates for discussion. Chief Secretary Padhi directed to make the project people friendly and easier for people to avail the facility.
Discussions in the meeting showed that the smart card would be a multipurpose card. It would have facilities like booking transit tickets, paying for municipality services, paying the utility fees, making payment in recreational centers, purchase from retail merchants etc. Around 325 POS machines will be set up in different parts of the city from where people can avail the facilities. Off line transactions can also be made through the card. The committee accorded approval to the bidding process and the ICICI bank was selected as the private partner for carrying forward the project. Various department and utility service providing agencies were advised to make use of the smart card based payment system for receiving the cost of their services and fees.
The progress of other projects like establishment of the Institute for Training of the Trainers ( IToT) , affordable housing project near Nakhara and slum rehabilitation and redevelopment housing project near Sainik school were also reviewed in the meeting.
The Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan, Principal Secretary PPP projects Pradeep Kumar Jena, Principal Secretary Industry Sanjeeb Chopra, Special Secretary General Administration Ashok Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary Revenue & Disaster management Dr. Chandra Sekhar Kumar, Principal Secretary Tourism Dr Mona Shrama, Secretary Works Nalini Kanta Pradhan, Special Secretary Commerce & Transport Manoj Kumar Mishra, Special Secretary Housing & Urban Development Prem Kumar Jha along with senior officers from respective departments participated in discussions.
