The city municipal corporation is likely to pass a resolution allowing online payment of property tax and water charges during its budget session on Friday. This, according to councillors and public, would help them save time and bring transparency in the process.
As per the agenda set at the budget meeting, resolution number 14 on the list is to introduce online payment gateway for property and water charges.
The resolution says that the corporation will rope in seven banks for the payment facility, of which two will be nationalized banks.
As of now, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Yes Bank have submitted their tariff for the service.
Kotak Mahindra Bank has proposed a charge of 4.5 plus service tax for every transaction made through net banking, while Yes Bank has proposed 5 for each transaction.
For credit card transactions, both the banks have proposed 1% of the amount along with service tax, while for debit card transactions below 2,000, 0.75% of the amount plus service charge. And for transactions above 2,000, the banks have proposed 1% of the amount plus service tax.
R Muthusamy, resident of Vadavalli, feels that online payment of property tax and water charges would help them save time. "I paid my property tax on Wednesday, and it took me an hour to complete the process as i have to go all the way to the corporation office. If online payment is allowed, then I can pay tax from anywhere and at my convenience," he said.
The advantage of online system, residents pointed out, are SMS reminders and email receipts. "I have been paying my electricity bills online. And I get reminders regularly about the payment due, and an email is sent to me after the bill is paid," said Aashish Kumar, a resident of Thudiyalur.
Opposition councillors too welcomed the move, saying it would benefit the public. "This will bring transparency in the system. And the public will also benefit as it would help them save time," said DMK councillor Meena Logu.
"However, we should see if AIADMK would implement the resolution. In the past, the ruling party had made similar announcements but hardly they were implemented," she said.