The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Bangalore Card’ soon

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Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Bangalore Card’ soon

Anil Kumar Sastry

Order issued on March 3, BMTC and BBMP told to coordinate

BANGALORE: All residents of Bangalore will get “Bangalore Card” a multi-utility card offering a host of services, including travel in public transport services, payment of utility bills and shopping. It is likely to be issued in the next six months.

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), which first introduced these cards for student concession passes and monthly passes, had planned to make it an all-in-one card either on its own or through some agency. Similarly, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) too intended to issue Resident Cards to all residents of the city.

Now, the State Government has authorised Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd. (KEONICS) as the sole agency for issuing “Bangalore Cards.” The Government Order of March 3 said the card should be on the pattern undertaken in western countries.

It should be a multi-utility card for various services provided by various departments and it would carry e-purse application in it.

The Principal Secretary, IT, BT and Science and Technology, had made a presentation on Bangalore Card to officials from Forests, Energy, Transport, Urban Development, Cooperation, Commerce and Industries departments, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, BMTC, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, BBMP, Bangalore Development Authority and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company.

Multi-utility

The Government Order said all the line departments would interact with KEONICS’ Managing Director and participate in the implementation and promotion of Bangalore Card project.

This card, the order said, being a multi-utility card and carrying e-purse application, could be popularised across all the service/utility providing departments and agencies.

Importantly, the proposed Resident Card of BBMP and BMTC’s cards should be merged with Bangalore Cards, the order said.

It said that KEONICS would work out a time-bound project, prepare a detailed project, identify technology partner and a bank for the purpose. It would coordinate with line departments in making the project a success within strict timelines, the order said. KEONICS Managing Director Rakesh Singh told The Hindu that Bangalore Card was planned as a resident-cum-debit card. As it would be an identity card too, acquiring the same should not be a burden for common man. Although a card would cost nearly Rs. 65, maintenance of the data-base would an expensive affair, he said.

Issue of these cards required a one-time investment, which would be substantial — over Rs. 200 crore.

Hence, KEONICS was looking for an investor besides a bank to transact with. Since transactions through these cards would be huge, the partner bank would have substantial business, he said.

Mr. Singh said that Bangalore would be the first city to introduce a comprehensive card, though in Mumbai a similar card with limited utility was being used.

If everything went as planned by KEONICS, Bangalore Cards would be in place within six months, he added.

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