[India] AP's e-Seva gets some credit thru HDFC Bank

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

AP's e-Seva gets some credit thru HDFC Bank
Hyderabad,
January 10, 2003


In a novel step to further citizen convenience, the Andhra Pradesh 
government's e-governance initiative-e-Seva, has joined hands with 
HDFC Bank to launch a co-branded credit card enabling hassle-free 
payment facility for utilities in the state.

The alliance was formally launched by AP chief minister N Chandrababu 
Naidu here on Thursday. Besides facilitating interaction between the 
citizens and the government, the proposed international credit card 
will extend two per cent reward points on eSeva transactions, in 
addition to the points earned on normal spending.

Explaining the special features of the co-branded credit card, eSeva 
director Phani Kumar said the rewards on utility spends could be 
redeemed against utility bills.

The cardholder can also authorise eSeva to debit the card for 
periodic payments. Initially, cardholders can authorise eSeva for 
water bills. However, the facility will be extended to other 
utilities including telephone bills, electricity bills, property tax, 
etc, shortly, Kumar said.

The spends through HDFC Bank - eSeva credit cards will get special 
discounts for their spend at Giant Hypermarket, Apollo Hospitals, 
Airtel, Pizza Corner and Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, besides 
global acceptance across 18 million VISA merchant establishments 
around the world.

Speaking on the occasion, HDFC Bank managing director Aditya Puri 
said that the bank proposed to set up ATMs at active eSeva centres in 
the state, initially in two places in Hyderabad.

"As the volumes increases we will set up ATMs at all the present and 
proposed eSeva centres in the state", he said.

While the bank has 11 branches in the state covering Guntur, 
Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, in addition to Hyderabad, it proposes 
to set up one branch each at Rajamundry, Tirupati and Hyderabad 
during the financial year, Puri said.

The bank has exclusive arrangements with eSeva for three years; 
during the period eSeva cannot enter into such agreements with any 
other bank, Puri said.

Source: The Financial Express

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