Patna: Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to install 100 water ATMs across the city, providing free access to purified drinking water in major parks, markets, and crowded areas. Some of these ATMs will also be placed in ward councillors’ offices, allowing local residents to fill their bottles with clean drinking water.
The initiative, part of PMC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, will be entirely free for the public. A proposal for the project will be presented at the 13th general meeting of the empowered standing committee on 31 January. If approved, installation work will begin in March, with all 100 ATMs expected to be operational before the peak summer heat in April.
Roads and Parks to be Renamed
In addition to the water ATM initiative, the corporation is set to rename key public spaces. There is a consensus on naming the link road of Gandhi Sarovar (Mangal Talab) after the Red Cross Society. A proposal for this will also be presented at the upcoming standing committee meeting. If approved by both the committee and the corporation board, the renaming will be formalised with the installation of a plaque.
Similarly, the park in MIG Sector 100, Kankarbagh, will be named Mithilesh Singh Park in honour of the late Mithilesh Kumar Singh, a former state minister and associate of Jayaprakash Narayan. A proposal for this is ready and will be presented in the next committee meeting.
Funds for Local Development
The standing committee will also consider the release of ₹1 crore for ward councillors to undertake area development projects. Once approved, the funds will be distributed in phases over the current financial year to support local infrastructure improvements.
