New system aims to end repeated visits to Municipal Corporation offices and provide affordable, transparent facilities for weddings and other functions
YAMUNANAGAR | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Residents seeking to organise weddings, last rites-related ceremonies, birthday functions and other social events at Municipal Corporation community centres in Yamunanagar-Jagadhri will no longer have to make repeated visits to the civic body office for bookings. The Municipal Corporation administration has decided to make the booking process completely online, while also introducing a size-based fee structure to bring greater transparency and protect residents from arbitrary charges.
The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Mayor Suman Bahmani in the presence of Municipal Commissioner Mahabir Prasad. The meeting focused extensively on the booking, maintenance and fee structure of community centres across the Municipal Corporation area, covering both small and large facilities.
Councillors and engineers associated with the community centres also placed their suggestions regarding the existing booking arrangements, maintenance requirements and charges. The administration discussed ways to make the process simpler for residents while ensuring that the civic facilities are properly maintained.
Under the new system, applicants will be able to book community centres online and pay the applicable fee and security amount through the same process. Once the online booking is completed, the applicant will receive a digital receipt, eliminating the need to make repeated visits to the Municipal Corporation office for paperwork and payment.
The key to the booked community centre will remain with the councillor of the concerned ward and the Junior Engineer. The applicant will be able to collect the key by showing the digital receipt issued after completing the booking process.
The security amount will also serve as protection for the Municipal Corporation against damage to the facility during an event. If the community centre remains undamaged after the programme, the entire security amount will be returned to the applicant. In case any damage occurs during the function, the cost of repair or restoration will be adjusted against the security deposit.
The meeting also gave in-principle approval to a proposal under which local Resident Welfare Associations could be entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining community centres in their respective areas. The proposal is aimed at improving day-to-day upkeep and ensuring greater local participation in the management of these public facilities. The proposal, however, will require final approval from the Municipal Corporation House at its forthcoming meeting.
A major component of the new arrangement is the introduction of fees according to the area of the community centre. The Municipal Corporation has prepared different slabs for last rites-related ceremonies and wedding functions, while separate charges have been fixed for community centres located in the upscale Sector 17 and Sector 18 areas.
For community centres measuring up to 1,500 square yards, the fee for a last rites-related ceremony has been fixed at ₹1,100, while a wedding function will cost ₹2,100. For centres measuring between 1,500 and 2,500 square yards, the fee will be ₹2,100 for a last rites-related ceremony and ₹3,100 for a wedding.
Similarly, for community centres measuring between 2,500 and 3,500 square yards, residents will have to pay ₹3,100 for a last rites-related ceremony and ₹5,100 for a wedding function.
For larger community centres measuring between 3,500 and 4,000 square yards, the fee has been fixed at ₹5,100 for a last rites-related ceremony and ₹11,000 for a wedding function.
Separate rates have been approved for community centres located in Sector 17 and Sector 18. Residents organising a last rites-related ceremony at these facilities will be charged ₹5,100, while the fee for a wedding function will be ₹7,500.
The size-based fee structure is intended to create a uniform system in which charges are determined according to the area and category of the facility rather than being subject to varying interpretations. The online payment and digital receipt mechanism is also expected to make the booking process easier to track and more transparent.
Mayor Suman Bahmani said the fee structure had been prepared keeping the interests of ordinary residents and economically weaker families in mind. She said many of the Municipal Corporation’s community centres offered facilities comparable to those available at private marriage venues, while being available to residents at significantly lower costs.
Bahmani said the new system would particularly benefit poor and middle-class families who need suitable venues for weddings and other important family functions but may find private marriage halls expensive.
She said the civic body was working to improve public facilities while keeping affordability in mind. According to the Mayor, providing better community infrastructure at reasonable rates could reduce the financial burden on families during important social occasions.
The Mayor also said the government was implementing several schemes with a focus on economically weaker sections and that the Municipal Corporation’s decision to rationalise community centre fees was in line with the broader objective of making public facilities accessible to ordinary citizens.
Municipal Commissioner Mahabir Prasad also stressed the importance of proper maintenance and accountability. The online booking system, digital payment and security mechanism are expected to provide a clear record of bookings and payments while establishing responsibility for the condition of the premises after each event.
The administration’s emphasis on maintenance is particularly significant because community centres are used regularly for weddings, ceremonies and other public and private gatherings. Regular upkeep will be necessary to ensure that the facilities remain usable and continue to provide residents with affordable alternatives to costly private venues.
The meeting was attended by councillors Priyank Sharma, Ankit Kumar and Shyam Lal, along with Assistant Engineer Mrinal Jaiswal, Muneeshwar Bhardwaj, Surendra Dahiya, Rajesh Sharma, Regional Taxation Officer Ajay Walia, Jitendra Malhotra and Raghubir Singh, among other officials.
With the proposed online booking mechanism, area-based charges and a defined security system, the Municipal Corporation is seeking to make community centres more accessible while improving transparency and accountability. The final decision on involving local Resident Welfare Associations in maintenance is expected to be taken by the Municipal Corporation House in its next meeting.
POD/DESK
