Srinagar, Sept 10 (JKNS): Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Thursday launched an app-based facility enabling residents to book waste bins online round the clock, with the service charge fixed at around ₹2,000 per day.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch, SMC Commissioner Fazlul Haseeb, as per news agency JKNS, said the initiative was aimed at simplifying waste-management services and promoting a more transparent and “faceless governance” model.
The facility is particularly intended for social and community functions, including weddings, condolence gatherings and other events held at homes and community halls, where temporary waste disposal arrangements are often required.
“This is one of those steps to improve service delivery and to ensure that there is faceless governance,” Haseeb said.
Under the new system, payment has been integrated with the online gateway. After making a booking and completing the payment, users will receive confirmation along with the name and phone number of the designated driver, while booking details will also be communicated through SMS.
Haseeb said the system would eliminate several steps involved in the earlier process, under which people had to approach the corporation, make a booking and then check the availability of waste bins.
The booking will operate on a day-based system, with one day counted from 10 am to 10 am. An extension for another day will follow the same cycle, while the charge has been fixed at around ₹2,000 per day, which the Commissioner described as a nominal rate.
The SMC has designated specific hooper vehicles and drivers for the service to ensure that confirmed bookings are served efficiently.
Haseeb said the facility was part of the corporation’s broader push towards digitalisation and reducing physical interaction between citizens and the civic administration.
On waste management in the city, the Commissioner said several projects were at different stages of implementation, including the construction and demolition waste processing plant, Integrated Solid Waste Management project and biomining project.
He said the government had taken major initiatives to improve waste processing and disposal, while the SMC was working towards their effective implementation.
“Waste management, for so many years, we have had a waste problem. Obviously, a transition system is going on in which systems are being implemented,” Haseeb said.
He expressed hope that the ongoing transition would show significant progress within the next one to two years.
The Commissioner also spoke about the condition of SMC-run community halls, saying the corporation had initiated a comprehensive audit to identify infrastructure gaps.
The audit covers furnishing, bathrooms, electricity connections, windows, accessibility and other basic facilities.
“We have designed a format, we have done an audit format,” Haseeb said, adding that the exercise was being carried out across all community halls under the corporation.
Around 25 community halls have already been audited, while another seven to eight are still pending, he said.
Once the audit is completed, the corporation will move to the next phase involving repairs, furnishing and other improvement works based on the deficiencies identified.
Haseeb said the objective was to progressively improve civic infrastructure and services while using technology to make service delivery simpler and more accessible to the public. (JKNS)
