Soon,500 facilitation centres

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to outsource its Citizen Facilitation Centres (CFC) to 500 agents across the city. The CFCs,expected to be opened in a month’s time,will provide governmental services—birth/death certificates,payment of bills among others— under one roof. They will also serve as forums to register and track complaints.

“Currently,citizens have to visit a specific ward to either get details on civic issues,marriage registration certificate and other such documents. After these centres are set up,citizens may visit their nearest CFC to avail facilities. The agents will charge them from Rs 30 to Rs 90 but citizens can save time and money as more centres will be available,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Aseem Gupta. The BMC currently has 24 CFCs. The new CFC centres will accept applications for different types of licenses such as pet,trade and health. Citizens will be able to pay property tax bills and water bills at the new centres also.

Five companies will be selected to open franchisees of the CFC centres across the city. “Although these companies will charge money for the services they provide,they are likely to remain open for longer duration. The option to visit the CFC at any ward office is always open to the citizens,” said Gupta.