Drabu launches Online Payment Portal at Toll Plaza Lakhanpur;Excise Deptt goes cashless in collaboration with J&K Bank

STATE TIMES NEWS
KATHUA: In order to encourage cashless and hassle-free payments, Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment Dr Haseeb Drabu today launched “Easy Collect”, a multi modal payment portal of the Excise Department at Toll Post Lakhanpur in the presence of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, J&K Bank, Parvez Ahmed.
DC Kathua Ramesh Kumar and officers of Excise Department were also present on the occasion.
J&K Bank’s “Easy Collect” is a multi modal payment portal which facilitates Excise Department to receive online payments. It supports multiple payment options with internet banking, credit cards, and debit cards of all major Banks. Easy Collect services are provided free of cost to the institutions  and the bank hosts and maintains the portal on the behalf of institutions.
Multiple modal features of portal enable users to pay using one of the multiple options presented. It also serves as convergent point for institutions of similar payment collection needs, wherein different institutions are hosted on a single portal. Institutions are provided with Merchant Informative System (MIS) where from all transactions are monitored on real time basis.
Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said the Lakhanpur Toll Post is operating 24X7 and from now onwards cash transactions will be minimized using technical intervention like “Easy Collect” and under GST regime phenomenal advantage will be registered at this point. He also appreciated the Green Corridor project of Forest department along the National Highway.
The Finance Minister during his Budget speech had declared that from next financial year, the Finance Department would go for cashless transactions. The Department of Excise has taken this initiative to go for Multi Modal Online Payment System to facilitate stake-holders which would usher in better accountability and transparency.
On the occasion, Chairman J&K Bank, Parvez Ahmad said that this step will prove to be a landmark in realizing the vision of Finance Minister for converting Lakhanpur toll post into a cashless entity and this proves to be the maiden step in converting state into low cash and high digital economy.
Dr Drabu also reviewed the working and achievements of the Excise Department and inquired about the status of Nagri Parole toll Plaza. He directed the Excise Commissioner to purchase full body scanner for physical checking of vehicles besides fulfilling the social responsibility by opening de-addiction centre at Lakhanpur.
The Finance Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed building of District Fund Office at Kathua. The building has been constructed at cost of Rs 82.30 lacs.
Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said that revamping the existing structure is the priority of the finance department by removing inertia and facilitating the people by abolishing the treasuries and introducing the pay and account systems for convenience and transparency.
The Finance Minister was briefed by the Excise Commissioner, T Angchok about the performance of the department with regard to levying of Excise duties, Toll Tax and Entertainment Tax.
He apprised the Finance Minister that the Department has registered a growth of 9.85 percent for the current financial year. He further apprised the meeting with regard to innovations and initiatives taken by the department for better facilitation of the State holders including Excise Licensees, Traders, users of Toll Post, etc. Dr Drabu appreciated the initiatives taken by the Excise department for introducing cashless system by way of creating facilities for on-line payment system. He also appreciated the performance of Excise Department regarding the financial achievements, enforcement activities and stressed for optimum utilization of Toll Post Lakhanpur. The Minister was further briefed by Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Excise Commissioner Toll Post Lakhanpur. On the occasion, the Finance Minister also gave away cash prizes to those Excise Officials who have rendered exemplary service during the current financial year. All the Deputy Excise Commissioners and officers of Excise and Commercial Taxes Department were present on the occasion. Among others, SSP Kathua Pawan Parihar, senior officers of Excise department and district administration were also present on the occasion.