Bhubaneswar, Feb. 20: The city is set to embrace a technology that will take it one step closer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a less cash society.

As a first step, it has decided to introduce a common payment card to pay for various services, including utilities, parking and amusement. The state government has already given its nod to develop the common payment system.

Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL), the capital's special purpose vehicle formed to implement the ambitious smart city project, had in December come up with the proposal to introduce the common payment system for a plethora of online services.

Top officials of various government departments, including information technology and housing and urban development, met earlier this month and decided on the modalities to execute the project.

According to the decisions taken at the meeting, officials of the smart city vehicle have been asked to prepare and invite the request for proposal and complete the tender process in the next three months. They have also decided that the project would be executed and maintained by the bidder and the government will bear no cost at all.

"The card will have integrated payment system for various services. We will tie up with a financial institution such as a bank or mobile banking agency to execute the project. The selected bidder will develop the system and charge a minimum amount from citizens through which the cost of the project will be incurred," said a senior BSCL official.

Those interested in availing of the common payment card will have to apply to the service provider through the city operation and management centre. Following that the card will be issued to the user. The user will be able to replenish the card and use it for various purposes. Another facility under the common payment system would be a smart phone application.

Sources said the application would work in line with existing mobile banking services like PayTM. A user would also have the option of using the app as a mobile wallet and make payments at different facilities. The other modalities such as the limit of cash and the procedure to obtain the card will be fixed by the executor at a later date.

The primary objective of the project is to ensure easy service delivery to citizens as well as boost the revenue collection of the civic body and other local agencies. A user will be able to make payments for services like city bus, parking, civic services including public health, utility payments including holding tax, water tax, recreational services and more.

"People are rapidly migrating to a cashless society, especially following the central government's decision to scrap higher denomination notes, which had triggered a severe cash crunch. At such a time, the common payment card comes as a boon for citizens. The authorities should plan it in a proper manner and execute the project in time," said Patia resident Pratap Sarangi.

If implemented, the common payment system will be the first of its kind in the country, according to sources.

"We had a workshop regarding the project where there was a detailed discussion with different financial institutions. We will hire a consultant to prepare the project report and float the tender," said BSCL managing director Krishan Kumar.

The proposed common payment system will be a part of the pan-city proposal of Bhubaneswar's Smart City Project. This includes an Intelligent City Operations and Management Centre will be made operational to look after and handle different services, including traffic, parking, bus operations, common payment, emergency response and city incidence management.