BMC to set up separate net connection for corporators

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) might not have been successful in providing free Wi-Fi network to citizens, but has stepped forward to offer the same to its corporators at major municipal buildings, schools, health posts and fire centres in the city.

The civic body, four years back, had planned to provide free Wi-Fi facility in the metropolis and had even zeroed in on some places to implement the project on pilot basis. However, the project fizzled out without much headway. However, to provide Wi-Fi facility to corporators, the civic body has decided to go an extra mile by setting up a separate Internet link. According to civic officials, the internet service has already been made available to corporators at civic standing and improvements committee halls by the IT department through intranet. It is provided by the Internet link that is established at Worli Data Centre.

For providing Wi-Fi internet facility at major municipal buildings, schools, health posts and fire centres, the IT consultant M/s KPMG has suggested that instead of using Intranet Wi-Fi, it would be better to provide Wi-Fi Internet service with the help of separate Internet link in view of IT security.

“To provide Wi-Fi facility at BMC head office, the internet link was provided by M/s MTNL on priority basis. E-tenders will be invited for providing the facility at head office and all committee halls. At major buildings, schools, health posts and fire centres too, it has been decided to provide Wi-Fi Internet facility with the help of separate internet link. It will be done in consultation with M/s KPMG,” said a senior civic official.

The demand to provide this facility was made by corporator Makarand Narvekar. “It would help corporators to access internet immediately at low cost. In addition to this, the civic body can also save expenditure on phones, SMS packs etc,” he said