Budget allocates ₹1450 crore for online civic services

NEW DELHI: The Government of India has decided to assist states in making available municipal services, even the smallest ones, such as payment of property tax, water and sewerage bills, market fees, and building permission across cities and towns across the country online. To this end, the government is planning to spend nearly ₹1,450 crore in 2024-25 on the implementation of the National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM).

The mission will also promote new-age technology in improving the management of civic infrastructure, including street lights, ensuring quality and flow of drinking water, and solid waste management. The Times of India has reported that the government will spend more than ₹6,000 crore on NUDM over the next four years.

Although some local governments offer online services, they are only available in big cities. Speaking on this, an official informed, “Now the digitisation of municipal services is patchy and hence people don’t get the full benefit. The mission aims to achieve 100 per cent digitisation in four years across all civic bodies. This will be a step towards ensuring ease of living for citizens and ease of business for traders and commercial establishment”.