Water ATMs installed by the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (MC) on Heritage Street in 2020 have been non-functional for an extended period, causing inconvenience to thousands of daily visitors. The units, part of the Smart City Project, were meant to provide easy access to safe drinking water along one of the city's busiest tourist corridors leading to the Golden Temple.
Defunct Machines and Garbage Accumulation
Multiple water dispensing units along Heritage Street are broken and out of order. During the peak summer season, these defunct facilities offer little relief to thirsty pilgrims and passersby. Many machines are now used as makeshift bins, with garbage strewn around them due to irregular cleaning by civic body workers.
The MC installed 10 water ATMs near the Golden Temple in 2020 at a cost of Rs 1.35 crore to provide potable water to devotees. Additionally, 10 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle crushing machines were installed on Heritage Street under the Smart City Project at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh.
Devotee and Shopkeeper Complaints
Heritage Street attracts thousands of visitors daily, many requiring free or affordable drinking water while walking to the Golden Temple. However, repeated breakdowns and frequent repairs have undermined the original purpose. Sukhpreet Singh Baini, a devotee from Gurdaspur, said, “We have seen these machines broken for a long time. They are hardly ever functional. We visit the Golden Temple twice every month, and most people either have to buy bottled water from nearby shops or carry their own.”
A group of women devotees from Beas also struggled to find drinking water and eventually had to purchase bottled water from nearby stores as the machines remained non-functional. Shopkeeper Anil Sharma added, “It has become an everyday issue. These machines have not been working for a long time and even when they are repaired, they soon become defunct again. We have repeatedly urged the MC authorities to remove them and free up space for pedestrians, as these ATMs occupy a portion of the sidewalks.”
Impact on Tourism and Public Health
The non-functional water ATMs not only inconvenience visitors but also reflect poorly on the city's infrastructure. The lack of safe drinking water forces pilgrims to buy bottled water, increasing plastic waste. The PET bottle crushing machines, intended to reduce waste, are also likely non-operational. The situation highlights the need for regular maintenance and accountability in civic projects.
