lucknow

Updated: Jun 30, 2017 23:20 IST

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation on Sunday launched 10 people-friendly services, including two portals and advanced bus shelters, to celebrate the second anniversary of the Smart City and the Amrut schemes.

However, non-BJP corporators asserted that the initiatives failed to make any difference to the everyday life of Lucknowites.

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Mayor Suresh Chandra Awasthi launched the services. Among these, is the house tax portal.

Now, house tax can be paid online through this new portal. The software allows residents to calculate their house tax, and make the payment through internet banking facility from the comforts of their homes.

To promote cashless transactions, all LMC counters will also be equipped with swipe machines. Payments for house tax, licences, and birth and death certificates can be made through cashless means.

On the occasion, the Smart City logo and website were also launched. The website has all the details about the journey of the project and the salient features of its plans.

Besides, a scheme to replace all sodium bulbs with LED lights was also launched on the day.

LMC has 1.9 lakh streetlights. By replacing these bulbs with LEDs, the municipal corporation will save at least Rs10 for every streetlight per day. This means, the total daily saving in electricity consumption will be around Rs 19 lakh.

A programme for power generation through waste was also started. A control room - for monitoring solid waste and attending to complaints - was dedicated to the people of the city on the day.

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A Smart City bus stand on Ashok Marg, and smart mobile compact waste transfer vehicles and transfer stations were also dedicated to Lucknowites.

“To boost cleanliness in the city, a smart mobile compact waste transfer station at BaraBirwa, Law University and Ashiana, have been dedicated to the residents. Smart underground bins were also launched in Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar,” said a senior official.

However, corporator Mukesh Singh Chauhan was sceptical. “How can anyone celebrate the anniversary of projects that have yielded no results till date? Roads are still full of potholes, drains are overflowing with filth, and LMC is saying that Lucknow is becoming a smart city,” he said.