Bhubaneswar, Aug. 26: The state housing and urban development department has decided to ensure social media presence of all offices under it in an effort to ease the public service delivery system.

Accordingly, it has asked all town planning units, regional improvement trusts and special planning authorities to set up their respective Facebook and Twitter accounts and be active on social media.

"Social media has proved to be a major channel for extending quality services to citizens. It bridges the gap between the citizens and the service providers," said a housing and urban development department official.

"Using social media, the offices will be able to register instant complaints or suggestions on any given issue," the official said.

Earlier, only the housing and urban development itself and other major line agencies such as the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Bhuba-neswar Smart City Limited, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority and a few others had social media accounts to ease the service delivery system.

The system ensures efficient management and delivery of civic services, such as provision for affordable housing, safe drinking water, sanitation, storm water drainage, sewerage, roads, public transport and creation of livelihood opportunities by accelerating economic growth of cities and towns.

"Social media platforms have proved to be a game-changer for us. It allows us to understand the mindset of people and provide services accordingly. Winning the smart city challenge could also be attributed to our social media presence," said Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Narayan Jena. "It would be a great step if the smaller offices are also included under it."

There are 30 town planning units, 39 special planning authorities, seven regional improvement trusts and 30 district urban development agencies that function under the ambit of the housing and urban development department in the state's 30 districts. These units are entrusted with implementing urban development initiatives in their respective areas.

Once these offices make their debut on social media, it would became easier for citizens to air their grievances. It will also help the offices reach a much larger audience as they look to promote different programmes and initiatives.

Sources said in the later stages, the housing and urban development department will make efforts to set up social media accounts for all 112 urban local bodies in the state, including municipalities and notified area councils. "These will help us extensively," said another senior official of the state housing and urban development department.

Citizens also welcomed the move to take up social media to ease service delivery.

"It often happens that we make rounds of the offices and our work never gets done. Social media nowadays has given us a voice. The smaller offices using social media would also be more active," said Gothapatna resident Sumit Mishra.