In an era where digital access promises to simplify everyday tasks, booking a community centre in Chandigarh remains an exercise in frustration and bureaucratic runaround. A recent ground investigation by The Indian Express has exposed the stark reality behind the Municipal Corporation's claims of streamlined services.
The Wild Goose Chase Begins
The ordeal started at the MC office in Sector 17, where our correspondent inquired about booking a community centre for a family wedding. The initial interaction set the tone for what would become a classic case of bureaucratic ping-pong. A guard at the entrance directed the correspondent to the booking branch on the other side of the complex, only to be told there that all bookings are now processed through e-Sampark centres.
The official at the booking branch confidently stated that all relevant details and procedures would be available at the e-Sampark centre, effectively passing the buck without providing any concrete information about the actual process or requirements.
Confusion and Closed Centres
The following day, our correspondent visited the e-Sampark Centre in Sector 23, hoping for clarity. Instead, he encountered more confusion. When he expressed interest in booking the Sector-15 community centre, the official promptly declared it closed. The Sector-23 janghar community centre received the same response with the vague explanation "band hai vo kisi kaam karke" (it's closed due to some work).
This revelation was particularly concerning given that the renovation of Sector-23 janghar began a year and a half ago, yet the facility remains non-operational, raising questions about project timelines and civic efficiency.
The Price of Persistence
The only available option appeared to be the Sector-22 community centre, carrying a hefty price tag of Rs 30,887. The process required collecting a form and attaching documents including Aadhaar Card and address proof. However, when our correspondent returned the next day to complete the booking, he was informed that the centre had already been booked.
Exhausted but determined, he inquired about the Sector-21 centre, which was available for Rs 30,987. During this interaction, another layer of confusion emerged when the employee mentioned that MC employees need to pay only half the charges for booking, highlighting the inconsistent pricing policy.
Official Acknowledgement of Systemic Failure
When confronted with these findings, Chandigarh Mayor Harpreet Babla acknowledged the complete lack of clarity in the community centre booking process. "Yes, I have got to know that there is complete lack of clarity over the entire community centre policy," Babla stated.
The Mayor recognized the urgent need for streamlining rates and charges for common citizens and addressing the confusion between different departments. "The booking branch says something else, the officials say something else. So we will bring clarity in the next House session. The idea is that a common person should not suffer," she assured.
Babla also addressed the need for rate rationalization, noting that "There is some confusion as charges are exempted for some category and for some they are half. So we will bring it all." This admission from the highest levels of local government confirms what citizens have experienced firsthand - a system in desperate need of reform and transparency.
The investigation reveals that despite numerous attempts to establish a coherent community centre policy, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation continues to operate in a state of confusion that directly impacts citizens seeking to access basic public facilities.
