Zonal system picks up momentum

VADODARA, July 27: The Vadodra Municipal Corporation's VMC plans to divide the city into four zones for effective administration, gaine...

VADODARA, July 27: The Vadodra Municipal Corporation8217;s VMC plans to divide the city into four zones for effective administration, gained momentum with representatives of the elected and administrative wings paying field visits on Monday for preliminary planning.

To be called Zonal System, it aimed at redressing citizens8217; grievances pertaining to sanitation, water, drainage, roads, streetlights, property tax and other issues at the zonal levels and retaining the main office in Khanderao Market for project and planning.

Mayor Bharti Vyas told reporters that the administration was asked to submit a report at the earliest regarding sitting arrangement for the officers to be posted in the zones. 8220;If everything goes well, plans are afoot to start the north zone office on experimental basis from the Belgaug Shopping Centre in ward number 7, from August 15,8221; she said.

Vyas said to reach a consensus, Congress leader in the VMC Kanchanbhai Parmar was also called. Among those who visited various parts of the city included Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria, Deputy Mayor Dinesh Chokshi, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Administration H S Patel and City Engineer B K Desai.

The proposal, on the lines of the system in Ahmedabad and Surat, was mooted about a year ago on the suggestion of the elected wing. However, it had to be redone at least twice as the elected wing was not satisfied with the entire proposal.

As on date, the VMC has decided to divide 10 administrative wards into 13 wards and in turn divide the wards into four zones east, west, north and south.

Arrangements were being made to accommodate officers, staff members, councillors and general public, coming to represent their grievances.According to Vyas, the members who visited different parts of the city felt that the zonal offices could be started from Belbaug Shopping Centre, the Vadodara Urban Development Authority building, space near Karelibaug water tank, administrative ward number 9 Panigate, Wadi Bambkhana School, Gajrawadi Sports Complex, offices of administrative ward numbers 4 and 10 and Raopura Municipal School.