145;High-tech146; transfers to nullify corruption in Octroi posts

Named 8216;Employees Transfer Software8217;, the software automatically generates a transfer list of octroi staff every month. The system has been designed such a way that no employee returns to one particular post within the duration of six months.

Chief of the PMC octroi department Kundalik Karkar said the system was very effective. 8220;We installed the software six months back and the system is very effective. After the installation of the software, the transfers of the employees working at the octroi posts of the PMC have become easier,8221; Karkar said.

8220;Before this automatic system, we used to follow the manual process of transfers, which used to take about three months. The other obvious benefit is that it prevents anybody from indulging in any kind of malpractice or corruption,8221; he said.

There are 40 octroi posts located on the outskirts of the city.

The strength of the employees at a particular octroi post that include supervisor, senior clerk, junior clerk and help is determined by the workload. Now, the total strength of octroi staff is 350.

8220;Since the Phugewadi octroi post witnesses churning out of more business than others, there are about 25 persons each working in three different shifts, while the smaller posts might just have three employees in each shift,8221; Karkar added,

Earlier, the department had installed a biometric sensor at the office in order to keep a check on the attendance of its employees 8220;With this, we can track the exact arrival and departure time of the employees.

This system does not allow anybody to furnish wrong time,8221; said Karkar. The system has been in place since December last year.