Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 30: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Friday decided to urge the Housing and urban development (H&UD) department to introduce a single window system to issue permission to telecom firms to ensure quick repairing of damaged roads.
The issue was raised during the monthly corporation meeting of civic body Friday chaired by Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena. Municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar is in Delhi to attend a smart city conclave.
Many corporators raised the issue of haphazard and rampant digging of roads which is inconveniencing motorists and pedestrians in the city.
Notably, residents bear the brunt of callousness of the civic body in ensuring quick repair of roads being dug up for laying telecom cables and sewerage. In many areas, roads become bumpy forcing motorists to try acrobatic skills and some suffer minor injuries in the effort. Areas like Rasulgarh, VSS Nagar, Vani Vihar, Kharvel Nagar, GGP Colony, Jharpada and Kalpana Square have encountered such problems.
Jena said a proposal to create a single window counter would be sent to the H&UD department so that instead of multiple agencies only BMC can issue permissions to telecom firms to dig road for laying optical fibre cables and other telecom cables. He said a resolution would be passed by BMC council and sent to H&UD for its nod.
Currently, BMC and public works department (PWD) are issuing permission to telecom firms which often lead to lack of coordination between the two departments. Corporators of Ward 25 and 15 Mansi Rani Sunderray and Samir Pradhan echoed concerns over deteriorating road condition in their wards.
The cash-strapped BMC also plans to urge the government to expedite process of passing property tax bill and enhance Octroi compensation to meet its depleting revenue.
Senior corporator of Ward 29 Sheikh Nizamuddin said many projects are lingering because of funds crunch.
The issue of debris being dumped by public health engineering organisation (PHEO) and roads and building (R&B) department was also discussed at the meeting. It was decided that conservancy lanes would be spruced up to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.
Meanwhile, corporators Amresh Jena, Sk Nizamuddin and Saswati Mishra expressed concern over fake ration cards.
