India, July 8 -- LUCKNOW Facing persistent operational challenges and repeated complaints over non-functional health ATMs, the Lucknow Smart City project has decided to hand over the operation and maintenance of all such machines installed in the city to a private agency. The move aims to ensure regular functioning of the facilities while keeping diagnostic test charges unchanged for the public.

Health ATMs, installed under the Smart City project at public parks and other high-footfall locations, were earlier operated by officials of SGPGI. But as the Smart City project no longer has sufficient funds for their operation and maintenance, it floated a tender to appoint a private operator, said Gaurav Kumar, municipal commissioner and CEO o...