Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 25: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) plan to launch a mobile app for people using Android-based smart phones is yet to take off as Chief Secretary GC Pati has not indicated a date when he would be able to unveil the app.
BMC authorities want the app to be unveiled by Pati to help BMC become the state’s first civic body to have a mobile app, according to sources.
The mobile app, BMC My City My Pride, which can be found in Google play section, is meant for android smartphones.
The Orissa Computer Application Centre (OCAC), which has developed the app, would soon launch it for other operating software such as Apple IOS, Windows and Blackberry OS.
The app, trials of which have been successfully completed, is aimed at lodging citizens’ civic grievances through smartphones. People can upload images of grievances on the app to get it addressed within a stipulated timeframe.
Besides, if similar complaints are being made from a particular area or ward, the software would highlight the grievance and send it to the department concerned for compliance.
A three-tier grievance redressal mechanism has been put in place to ensure 100 per cent compliance.
“The trials have been completed. We would soon take a call on the launching of mobile app,” BMC spokesperson-cum-deputy commissioner Deepti Rani Sahoo said.
Repeated attempts to contact BMC commissioner Krishan Kumar failed. Kumar also did not respond to a text message.
People from several sections of society have raised questions over the success of the app. They said that it will be a challenge for BMC to improve the sanitation situation in the city, which it has failed to do till now.
“Animal carcasses can be spotted lying on the roads as BMC teams seldom remove them. Only time will tell how much of a difference the new app will make,” said Bikram Senapati, a retired doctor residing at Sahid Nagar.