Bhubaneswar: In a bid to enhance transparency and efficiency in registration services, the Odisha government has initiated steps to implement a cashless transaction system in all Sub-Registrar (SR) and District Sub-Registrar (DSR) offices across the state.
The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting of the Revenue and Disaster Management department chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
Officials said 350 Point of Sale (PoS
) machines will be installed in a phased manner across SR and DSR offices. The machines will be provided through Indian Bank and allocated based on the volume of registration transactions handled by individual offices. The Revenue & Disaster Management Department will bear the cost of procuring the devices.
In the first phase, the cashless transaction system will be introduced in registration offices located in Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and Sambalpur. To ensure smooth functioning and uninterrupted service, the PoS machines will be covered under a five-year Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC).
The meeting also decided that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) would be prepared after obtaining government approval for the project. Necessary training will be imparted to concerned officers and staff to facilitate effective implementation of the system.
Officials said the initiative is intended to encourage citizens to adopt digital payment methods while improving transparency, convenience and efficiency in the registration process. Cash transactions will be discouraged except in highly essential and unavoidable situations.