The Arunachal Pradesh government has launched an online water bill payment system for Itanagar. Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Minister Wangki Lowang inaugurated the service at the Civil Secretariat on August 6. The platform aims to make water bill payments more transparent, efficient, and accessible.
The initiative aligns with the state’s vision of improving e-governance and citizen-centric services. According to the PHED, the service will soon expand across the entire state, allowing residents of remote areas to pay bills without visiting government offices.
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Phase-wise launch planned
The Arunachal online water bill system is part of a phased rollout. Currently operational in Itanagar, the system will be tested and optimized before extending to other urban and rural regions. Speaking during the launch event, Minister Wangki Lowang said, “We want to ensure that this system benefits everyone in the state, regardless of geography. Our aim is to make governance seamless and responsive.”
The service is also available through the Arunachal PHED mobile app, which includes options for bill viewing, instant payments, billing history, and receiving digital receipts.
Benefits for citizens
The digital shift brings multiple benefits to the residents of Arunachal Pradesh. Primarily, it eliminates the need for physical visits to PHED offices for payment. This is especially crucial for people living in remote or hilly areas, where travel often proves challenging.
The new platform also provides real-time bill updates, reducing errors caused by manual entries. Additionally, residents will receive SMS notifications about upcoming dues and payment confirmations, thereby ensuring timely compliance and avoiding penalties.
The online platform includes multilingual support and is designed for user-friendliness. Citizens with basic digital literacy can navigate the system with ease. It also supports various payment options including UPI, debit cards, credit cards, and net banking.
Tech partner and backend support
The state partnered with a local IT firm to build and maintain the platform. The backend features include automatic meter reading integration, bill generation, real-time payment processing, and grievance redressal.
Officials highlighted that the system complies with national data security standards. This ensures that consumer information remains safe and inaccessible to third parties.
Moreover, the government has trained PHED staff to handle digital queries and assist citizens who may face challenges during the transition period. Call center support has also been added to assist users.
Digital Arunachal in focus
This move is part of the larger Digital Arunachal initiative, which aims to digitize public services across departments. Earlier this year, the government launched similar systems for electricity payments and land record management.
Speaking on the broader vision, Chief Minister Pema Khandu had earlier emphasized the importance of tech-driven governance. “We are working to bring every household under digital governance frameworks. Our aim is to improve efficiency, save time, and reduce corruption,” he had said during the state budget session.
The launch of the Arunachal online water bill system thus represents another step toward achieving this vision. Officials plan to review citizen feedback regularly to further improve the system.
Statewide expansion soon
The PHED Department is now preparing for the next phase of the project, which includes towns like Pasighat, Naharlagun, and Tawang. “We are analyzing usage data from Itanagar to fine-tune the system. Once stable, we will extend it across all districts,” Minister Lowang confirmed.
A statewide awareness campaign will accompany the expansion. The department plans to conduct workshops, distribute pamphlets, and use radio and television to inform people about the system and how to use it.
Schools and colleges will also be involved in promoting the platform. Students can play a key role in helping their families adapt to the new system, especially in areas where older people may need assistance with digital platforms.
Public reception and feedback
The initial response in Itanagar has been positive. Several users praised the system for its simplicity and prompt service. Tashi Norbu, a resident of Bank Tinali, said, “Earlier I had to stand in line to pay the bill. Now, I did it from my phone in two minutes.”
However, some users noted that occasional glitches and login delays need to be fixed. The PHED IT team has acknowledged the issues and is working on stability updates.
Looking ahead
As Arunachal embraces digital governance, the Arunachal online water bill system serves as a key milestone. By combining technology, accessibility, and public participation, the government aims to ensure smoother delivery of essential services. With a statewide rollout on the horizon, the people of Arunachal can look forward to a more connected and convenient future.
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