Patna, Dec. 27: Residents in the Patna Electric Supply Undertaking area would now be able to pay their power bills with minimum hassles, without even having to queue up.

The South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd would install 100 any time payment machines.

According to the tender floated by the company in this regard, the any time payment (ATP) machines would be installed under a 'Build Own Operate and Maintain' basis in the Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) area.

Sources said around 100 such machines would be installed in all prominent and strategic locations of the city by the end of the current fiscal (2014-15).

'Buoyed by the consumers' response to pay energy bills through ATP machines, the company has invited tenders from interested parties to set up machines on a 'Build Own Operate and Maintain' basis at various locations in Pesu area,' an official said.

The successful bidder would supply, test, commission, operate and maintain the machines, sources said, adding that the power company would give commission to the bidder for rendering the service.

The bidding process is expected to be complete by the end of January and the successful bidder is expected to install around 100 ATP machines by the end of the current fiscal, that is March 2014.

The move would help consumers pay their bills with ease in nearby areas. They would not have to travel far from their homes to find an ATP machine. After the plan is executed, the machines would be available within a 1 -2km periphery.

The company intends to install such machines at shopping complexes, malls, multiplexes, offices, bus stand, railway station, hospitals and other places. At present, 20 ATP machines are functional in 11 power supply divisions of Pesu that deal with around four lakh consumers.

A distribution company official told The Telegraph that the firm has identified some of the prominent areas such as Premchandra Rangashala, Moinul Haque Stadium, Collectorate premises, Gandhi Maidan, Nalanda Medical College, Hanuman Nagar near Panitanki, Patna Sahib railway station, High Court campus, IGIMS, SK Nagar, Raja Bazaar, Exhibition Road near LIC office, Fraser Road, Biscomaun building, Kurji Hospital, Kurji Mor near P&M Mall, Shivpuri, Mahesh Nagar and others to set up the machines.

Consumers would be able to pay bills through cash (currency notes and coins), cheques and drafts at ATP machines. The machines look and function like automated teller machines (ATMs). Consumers can deposit their bills at any of the machines.

A consumer willing to deposit his/her bill by cash, cheque or draft would have to follow instructions. The machine would give the consumer an option whether he/she intends to deposit by cash or cheque. Then one would have to enter the customer ID. At the end, a consumer would get a receipt after successful deposition of the bill.