Four e-Sampark centres to come up in city’s south soon

To know about the facilities provided by the e-Sampark centres,the Chandigarh Administration has also launched another initiative,m-Sampark,by virtue of which the residents can access information on a whole range of e-Sampark services from their cellphones by simply sending an SMS. “Our basic aim to launch m-Sampark services was to enable a citizen to access all services provided at e-Sampark centres through all possible means of communication. Since cellphones are the most used and a convenient mode of communication these days,we launched this service,” said an official spokesperson of the Chandigarh Administration.

For availing the m-Sampark services,a person is required to send an SMS “SMENU” to 58888. A menu of services available at e-Sampark centres shall be sent back to the user in the form of an SMS. The services currently being provided through m-Sampark service area ‘SBILL’ (for getting the electricity/ water bill details); ‘SLOC’ (getting the address and locations of the Sampark centres across the city); ‘SSERV’ (for getting the services provided by Sampark centres); ‘SDOC’ (for getting a list of all documents accepted as age proof and residence proof); ‘SPV’ (for knowing the passport verification status); ‘SPW’ (for knowing the status of complaint lodged at police public window,Police Headquarters,Sector 9). For availing facilities of getting water/electricity bills through SMS,one has to register with the Chandigarh Administration.

An initiative to be launched by the Department of Information Technology in September 24,the Chandigarh Administration has collected a government revenue of nearly Rs 3,163 crore from nearly 1 crore transactions. The number of transactions has touched nearly 2 lakh per month. The four months’ revenue (from April 2010 to July 2010) has crossed collection of Rs 375 crore as government revenue as compared to Rs. 315 crores in the corresponding period last year.

“The concept of e-Sampark centres is a great success for the Chandigarh Administration. Particularly,with the launch of private services,including collection of phone bills of BSNL,Connect,Airtel and Idea have increased collection of revenue at these centres. For such services,these centres emerge as a great convenience for city residents,” said a senior Chandigarh Administration official.

The southern sectors of the city were craving for such e-Sampark centres,as mostly the northern and central parts of the city had the ‘privilege’ of such e-Sampark centres so far. As of southern sectors,so far only two sectors – Sectors 40 and 43— had e-Sampark centres. The e-Sampark centres presently exist in Sectors 10,15,18,43,47,Manimajra and Industrial Area Phase-I (near electricity bill collection centres); Sector 17 (Central Treasury Office); and Sectors 23,40 and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.