Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
E-Governance

Tirunelveli corporation takes the cyber route

Print PDF

The Hindu          15.12.2011

Tirunelveli corporation takes the cyber route

Staff Reporter

The module will forward grievances to officials concerned

Going hi-tech: Tirunelveli Mayor Vijila Sathyananth responding to a caller at the newly inaugurated public service centre at Tirunelveli Corporation on Wednesday. - Photo: A. Shaikmohideen
Going hi-tech: Tirunelveli Mayor Vijila Sathyananth responding to a caller at the newly inaugurated public service centre at Tirunelveli Corporation on Wednesday. - Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

Mayor Vijila Sathyananth on Wednesday formally inaugurated the Public Service Centre, a fully computerised module established in the first floor of the existing administrative building, to receive grievances from the public, record and forward it to the officials concerned for early and appropriate action.

The Public Service Centre will function on all days round-the-clock. Through the toll-free number 1800 425 4656, the aggrieved residents can register their complaints with the Public Service Centre, which will immediately forward the complaint to the nodal and the official concerned for immediate action even as a printer connected to the computer will generate three copies of the complaint for sending the hard copies also to the officials. The complaints will also be registered in the zonal office concerned.

Moreover, a Short Message Service regarding complaints on erratic drinking water supply, accumulating garbage, blocks in underground drainage system, anti-mosquito operations, streetlights, stray cattle, issuing of birth and death certificates, building plan approvals, unclean public toilets, payment of taxes payable to the corporation etc., will also land in the mobile phones of these officials.

“Hence, the officials can never say that they have not received any complaint,” said the technocrats manning the Public Service Centre.

On the registration of the complaint, the complainant will receive a reference number with which he can easily track it in future and know the status of the grievance . Above all, the nature of action taken on the complaint will be forwarded to him through his mobile phone. If the complainant is not satisfied with the quality of the remedial measure, the grievance will be kept pending for further action.

In an attempt to fine-tune this service, Ms. Vijila Sathyanand and Commissioner Ajay Yadav will supervise its functioning directly and the complainants can directly speak to the Mayor and the Commissioner on contacting this service centre.

Another remarkable feature of this system is that those who want to pay the tax arrears can call this centre and express the same. Immediately, the bill collector concerned will be sent to meet the caller with a hand-held gadget to collect the money. Since, the bill collector can hitherto give only the receipt with hand-held gadget for tax collected, the corporation has upgraded this equipment with new software so that the official can also issue the ‘demand note', collect the tax and give receipt on the spot.

 

Coimbatore Corporation to be soon on twitter, facebook

Print PDF

The Hindu          01.03.2011

Coimbatore Corporation to be soon on twitter, facebook

Karthik Madhavan
The newly launched website of Coimbatore Corporation. –PHOTO: S.SIVA SARAVANAN
The newly launched website of Coimbatore Corporation. –PHOTO: S.SIVA SARAVANAN

COIMBATORE: All you may need is 140 characters to reach the Coimbatore Corporation. The civic body will soon be on twitter. And facebook as well.

Commissioner Anshul Mishra said as part of the e-initiatives, the civic body has not only redesigned its website but also added the social networking features to connect to the people. Collector P. Umanath launched the website (www.coimbatore-corporation.com) at the Corporation on Monday.

The redesigned website had a grievance redressal facility. Details entered into it would land at the Commissioner's inbox and he would able to directly access the details, Mr. Mishra said.

Short messaging service (SMS), Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) and SMS gateway had also been incorporated into the website. Coimbatore residents would henceforth get SMS alerts on tax or water charge dues. They could also make use of the IVRS for details regarding property tax, water charges, etc.

The website was available in Tamil and English, he said and added the civic body had put systems in place to ensure that even if the officials were transferred, the same quality of service was available to the public. “It does not end with an officer.”

The civic body has redesigned website and added social networking to connect to citizens

 

GIS application to be made available to people in April

Print PDF

The Hindu          28.01.2011

GIS application to be made available to people in April

S. Ramesh

Web-based GIS (Geographic Information System) application being developed for Gobichettipalayam Municipality in Erode district is likely to be made available to the public in April this year.

The application will be utilised in urban planning and civic services, including monitoring of property tax assessment and collection, drinking water supply and traffic management.

Gobichettipalayam is one of the two municipalities in the State selected by the department of municipal administration for the implementation of the GIS application.

The other municipality selected for the project is Rajapalayam. The work is being carried out under the World Bank-funded Tamil Nadu Urban Development Project, Collector T. Soundiah told The Hindu.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which has been selected for the development of the application, has already completed the field survey, preparation of base maps using the satellite images obtained from National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA). The entire town's infrastructure such as buildings, roads, water distribution networks, hospitals, educational institutions, bus stands, streets, parks and playgrounds had already been mapped.

“We are now cross-verifying the data collected during the field survey with the municipal information records. The variations found during the verification process will be provided to the TCS officials, who will make necessary corrections in the application,” an official in the municipality here said.

The verification process is expected to be completed before the end of February. Training programmes would be conducted for the staff at the municipality on the effective utilisation of the GIS technology before the implementation of the application.

“Once completed, the application will help civic officials in a number of ways particularly in streamlining the property tax assessment and collection.

People can also get the required information at the click of a mouse,” he added.

 


Page 23 of 37