In Jayanagar 9th block, the BBMP’s office is different. Unlike the
many offices it has across the city, this one stands out for being the
first and a single-window at that, for all vital departments like public
works, health and Bangalore water supply, sewage board among others.

An
initiative strongly supported by CK Ramamurthy, who has been accorded a
corporator status by BBMP, the office was as a result of the
corporator’s direct interaction with people. He says, “I realised that
the public was facing lot of complications in sorting out their civic
issues for which they had to go to departments which are in different
areas.”

The corporator discussed the plan with the concerned
authorities of BWSSB as well as health and engineering who were more
than willing to send in one of their official to the office, daily.
“This will enable the public to interact directly with the officers and
workers of the departments. Further, the representatives of these
departments will be available in the office between 9 am to 11 am every
working day to receive the complaints from the public directly and
resolve them on the spot,” he explained.

Being the
first-of-its-kind in Bangalore, the Corporator wants the public to
utilise the opportunity. “It’s been in operation from past one month and
we see people rushing during morning hours with their civic problems.
Whether it is for tree cutting, dog menace, street light issue…every
problem can be brought to notice here. We also have the ward committee
people coming over to attend to public complaints. As a matter of fact,
the public has requested me to put another department to handle tax
issues. I will be speaking to the authorities concerned and try to
address the requests as early as possible. Soon we will have facilities
for senior citizens too,” he said.

The facilities can be availed
by people residing in Jayanagar 3rd, 4th, 5th and 9th block. “People
from areas under ward no.168 can come and get their problems sorted
out,” said Ramamurthy.

The citizens have welcomed the new concept
with open hands. “Often, I used to struggle running in various
directions to get the civic problems sorted out. But this single-window
has given us some relief,” said Jagadish Kumar, a resident of Jayanagar
9th block.