The Times of India           05.02.2014

BBMP will use mobile app to create trade license holders' database

BANGALORE: The BBMP does not have the exact number of business establishments which do not possess a trade licence. To identify those who are doing business without obtaining trade license and to maintain the database of trade license holders, the civic agency will now launch a mobile app.

This mobile app will be used by the councilors and BBMP officials. Explaining about the features of this app, BBMP's IT advisor T Sheshadri told TOI that after the installation of this app on a 3G or 2G enabled smart phone, councilors and health officers of the respective wards can visit various establishments and collect the details like a shop's location, name of the shopkeeper, and shop's photograph. Once these details are uploaded in this app, it will get uploaded instantly in the server of the Palike, he added.

Using this app, details of the existing trade license holders will also be collected. After the completion of uploading all the details related to business establishments, trade license holders can't cheat BBMP by not paying the renewal fees. Every year license renewal process is conducted in February/March. To check whether a license holder's renewal fee is pending, BBMP authorities have to just key in trade license holder's number on the app, which will immediately display if renewal fees is pending.

However some councilors and officers don't have smart phones. According to an officer Palike provided around 350 basic smart phones to officers in 2012. City mayor BS Sathyanarayana said councilors, who are interested to use this app can help officers in collecting the details, but health inspectors have to compulsorily use this app. "We have provided smart phones to these officers few years ago."