Bhubaneswar, March 3: The mobile-based application (App), “My city my pride”, which ensures public participation in the corporation affairs, will shortly cover the development authority as well.

The mobile App, which the public and officials of the civic body are using now, is an interactive tool through which the residents can post photographs of a particular place on aspects of its cleanliness or neglect, so that the App users can notice it. While fellow residents can give their comments and suggestions on the issue, officials have to respond to the particular post to address the complaint.

Users of Android phones can download the free App from Google Play Store and start contributing their share towards keeping the city smart and clean. One has to give personal details, including the area or ward in which he or she lives.
The App is also linked to the corporation’s helpline number — 18003450061 — under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan mission, and the complaints received from the citizens are also getting tagged to the similar posts on the App.

Municipal commissioner-cum-vice-chairman of the authority Krishan Kumar said: “We are getting a good response from the public from our mobile App, and the officials are also responding to the people’s posts. After a long discussion among officials, we are now planning to bring the Bhubaneswar Development Authority under the ambit of the App.”

Residents of the city are eager to get information on enforcement, planning violation and parks governed by the authority. 
“Earlier, the building violations used to be reported either by the authority staff members or general public. But now, the public will also upload the photographs with their comments, so that the staff members could immediately find the site and act according to the law,” said an official.

Sources said the company, which is managing the App of the civic body, had done its legwork and given feedback to the authority that they could immediately start the service.

“Most of the parks maintained by the authority are having old or broken rides for the children. Once the authority comes under the purview of the App, I will post pictures of them to inform the concerned authority,” said Ganganagar resident Subhakanta Swain.

At present, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is using technology for optimum public participation and has also asked its officials to become smart phone-savvy.

The municipal commissioner has formed a group in WhatsApp for better and faster dissemination of information, feedback and compliance, so that the efficiency of each official is valued through a common platform. A similar WhatsApp loop is likely to be made for the authority officials as well in near future for better administration.