Apply online for new electricity connections from next month

S P Nagtilak, chief engineer of the Pune division of MSEDCL, told Newsline that the process will be made smoother so that there is no delay in providing electricity connections to consumers.

He said their computerisation projects, especially payment of bills online, have received a good response.

"Last month, MSEDCL collected a whopping Rs 26 crore from 2.25 lakh people who paid the amount online," siad Nagtilak.

Under the project, to facilitate electricity connections to consumers, the MSEDCL has provided computers to all its 150 section offices in the Pune urban zone. Every month, the power utility receives at least 7-8,000 applications for new connections that are manually processed. Once the application is made online, it will be sent to the concerned officer in each region for scrutiny and approval. Applicants can also check their status online and consult officials in case there is a delay.

MSEDCL officials can track the progress of the applications and also check for connections that have been discontinued. While initially the project will be started on a pilot basis, the utility will later extend it to all areas under the Pune zone. There are 14 lakh consumers in the Pune zone of MSEDCL.

7 bikes burnt in Bhusari fire

Seven motorcycles in the parking lot of a residential building in Bhusari colony were destroyed in a massive fire that broke out in the early hours of Thursday. Police have ruled out foul play and suspect the fire was caused by a short circuit.

The residents of Abhishek Society at Bhusari colony said they noticed the fire as the fumes started entering their flats. Fire brigade officials said they got a call around 3.30 am and the fire was brought under control by around 4 am. "The fire brigade officials have told us that prime facie a short circuit was the reason behind the fire. It does not appear to be a foul play. There is a lot of scrap kept in the parking lot that might have increased the intensity of the fire," said senior inspector Kalyan Vidhate of Kothrud police. Niranjan Joshi, who stays in a rented flat in the building, said, "Around 3 am we heard loud thumping sounds. The fumes had started entering the flat. Some of the neighbours had noticed fire and had called the fire brigade. By the time the fire was brought under control, seven bikes had been gutted and a car was damaged." No injuries were reported in the incident.

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