The other pre-requisite for the kiosk is power supply from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd.

Part of the PMC plan to install the CFC kiosks in all 144 wards, the plan to roll out 100 kiosks by March-end was to be implemented by Vansh Infotech. As per the plan, the PMC is to pay a fee of Rs 15,000 a month to the contractor for each kiosk and the contractor can generate additional revenue through advertising for the next 10 years.

“We have so far installed 53 kiosks in various parts of city and in eight ward offices of which 42 are operational. The installation of the remaining kiosks has been delayed as the PMC is yet to finalise locations for the same,” Rohan Dudhedia, Director, Vansh Infotech, told The Indian Express.

All the kiosks installed so far are operational from 8 am to 8 pm and functioning well, he said adding they have also agreed to PMC demand to appoint a person man each of the kiosks for first few days in order to educate the public to use the service effectively.

A senior civic officer admitted that the delay in installing kiosk was due to failure of allotting land to the contractor for the purpose.

“There is no problem from the contractor, but the PMC is not able to finalise locations for the kiosks due to opposition from local residents and even some corporators of particular localities,” he said adding the PMC is looking for convenient locations - gardens and parks - for the purpose. The PMC has also been forced to encroach upon footpaths in some instances. However, the PMC Land and Estate department have denied that the reason for delay was failure to allot land for installing CFC kiosks. “There is no issue of land availability for installing the kiosk and with ample public space available the kiosk can be installed in any of the PMC land,” Suraj Mandhare, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Land and Estates), said. There was no formal demand for land for installing kiosk so far and there is ample space for the kiosk since it is a PMC initiative, he added.