The pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has finally taken the first step in easing the rush of people seeking various civic and government services at its headquarters in Pimpri. Unlike Pune city where there is only one Citizen Facilitation Centre, PCMC has set up four additional centres at its four divisional offices at Nehrunagar, Chinchwad, Pradhikaran and Jagtap Diary areas. It already has a solitary CFC at its headquarters in Pimpri which is always jammed by citizens.

The decision to set up the four new centres was taken by Municipal Commissioner Asheesh Sharma soon after he assumed charge in June last year.

The Indian Express in its reports had highlighted chaotic and endless queues where arguments, quarrels, pushing and shoving were the order of the day. In fact just before Sharma took over there was a nasty flare-up resulting in stone pelting, though there was not much damage.

“After your reports, we said we would ease the chaos at our headquarters. Though things took a while, they have finally happened,” Sharma said adding that it was a Diwali gift for thousands of Pimpri-Chinchwad residents.

Of the four new CFCs, two had become operational over a month ago while two were commissioned five days back. Sharma said the first two were started as soon the infrastrucuture was put in place while the other two were started after ensuring all requirements were met.

“There was some connectivety problem. That's why there was slight delay in starting all the four at one go,” PCMC additional municipal commissioner Subhash Dumbare said.

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