Varanasi: The Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) exempted cycle-rickshaws, rickshaw trolleys, carts and hand carts from licence fees completely. Along with this, a decision was taken to simplify all bylaws and make licence process online.In executive meeting held on Tuesday under chairmanship of mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari, consensus was reached to eliminate complex procedures of bylaws and make them simple. It was decided to amend and simplify all bylaws (regulations), including paying guest accommodations, guest houses, home stays, dormitories, private nursing homes/hospitals, maternity homes, pathology centres, dental clinics, ultrasound, private buses, school buses, insurance companies, domestic/foreign liquor, model shops, hotel bars, hotel lodges and others, for the convenience of common people and small traders.Meanwhile, under Section 91(2) of the Municipal Corporation Act, on the proposal of Councillor Sushila Devi, the executive decided to expand basic facilities in slum areas. Under this, a directive was given to survey sewers, street lights and other basic facilities and prepare a proposal within a month. Priority will be given to this in next financial year.Deputy chairman Narsingh Das raised the issue of revised bills not being issued even after VMC House waived the water tax surcharge and said no surcharge would be collected, even for a rupee, on depositing tax by Mar 31. Due to lack of information, some building owners are not able to take advantage of this provision. Mayor directed officials to issue revised bills within four days and asked them to publicise the surcharge waiver widely so that building owners got advantage of the decision. On deputy chairman’s proposal to name lanes and neighbourhoods after Padma awardees and develop one room of their residence as museum, municipal commissioner Himanshu Nagpal said the process was underway. A list was prepared and target was to complete the process by Mar 31. On councillor Praveen Rai’s proposals for repair of dilapidated roads to be completed by May 2026, cleaning of drains before rains and free Wi-Fi at major ghats, chief engineer R K Singh said target was to complete road repair work by Mar. Mayor that, in first phase, free Wi-Fi would be made available at Assi and Dashashwamedh ghats by the end of this month.
