Wouldn't you simply love a facility which lets you pay civic taxes, telephone and power bills and income tax, plus book railway tickets, under a single roof?Unbelievable, but that’s exactly what the state government is planning under a new project, the I-Setu.As part of its e-governance campaign, the government will set up 500 I-Setu kiosks at different places in Mumbai. The kiosks, an improved version of Andhra Pradesh’s e-seva service, is based on a feasibility study conducted by Tata Infotech. In Phase I starting January 2004, 50 kiosks will be set up, providing 40 different State and Central government-related services, said state Information Technology Secretary Mukesh Khullar.The project will be implemented with the help of the private sector on build, operate and transfer basis. The decision was taken at a meeting called by Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde yesterday. ‘‘A citizen can go to a kiosk which will be manned by a private operator, pay a nominal charge and get the work done. Whether you want a telephone connection or a government certificate, forget you approaching various government departments. Just apply through the I-Setu kiosk,’’ a beaming Khullar said. The maximum fee to be charged for any service will be Rs 5.It is based on a simple programme whereby the operator can access the utility or department’s database. The transaction will be in front of the customer and a receipt provided immediately. The operator will also record the transaction.In the initial stage, the kiosks will offer services of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Food and Drugs Administration, the Maharashtra State Electricity Board, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and state government departments.The kiosks will have two versions — fixed and mobile. One main centre will be positioned at the Mantralaya, the remaining will be stationed at Chembur, Worli TV Centre, the district collectors’ offices at Fort and Bandra.
