BBMP takes the QR code route for instant connect with citizens to address civic issues in Bengaluru

How does it work?

Scanning the QR code will take one to a BBMP website link that would provide the street’s entire information— the ward name, number, the sweeper (pourakarmika), and the MLA concerned and their contact numbers. Besides, it would also provide the contact details of all department officials, contractors, and supervisors.

The QR code-enabled initiative would spare citizens the headache of visiting the BBMP office for every matter concerning them or their locality. Instead, they could scan the code and inform the person concerned directly.

South First visited the 33rd A Cross in Jayanagar 4th Block in Pattabiramanagar ward— a semi-residential cum commercial cross street — to get a feel of the initiative.

On scanning the QR code, the user was led to a page on the BBMP’s website where it had 13 sub-heads with information on that particular street, including cleaning, garbage collection, and waste generation information, besides contact details of the BBMP’s Engineering Department, Electrical Department, Forest Department, BWSSB Engineering Department, BBMP Control Room, Fire Department, Animal Husbandry and Health Department.

The sub-heads also contained information regarding the duties and responsibilities of those concerned, such as filling potholes, re-setting footpaths, replacing broken slabs, desilting drains, managing streetlights, cutting trees, water supply, sanitary-related issues, catching dogs, stray cow menace, fogging, etc.

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Additional information

The QR code’s link also displayed information that the street has 110 houses with 10 commercial buildings with garbage collection timing from 7:30 am to 7:50 am. The contact numbers of the street sweeper, his/her supervisor, and the garbage contractor were also displayed.

“Let’s say the streetlight is not working or the light is flickering. One has to just dial the number of the officer-in-charge or the contractor mentioned under the BBMP Electrical Department and inform him/her about the issue. Let it be stray dog menace or mosquito menace, once the responsible person is informed about the issue, it is their duty to resolve them,” Executive Engineer Manjunath told South First.

Chief Engineer, Bengaluru South Zone, Rajesh said that this has been taken up as a pilot project in the BBMP’s south zone.

“There are six constituencies in the south zone —  Jayanagar, BTM Layout, Basavanagudi, Chickpete, Padmanabhanagar and Vijayanagar. Except for Vijayanagar, we have put up QR codes on almost all signboards of streets in the other five constituencies,” Rajesh told South First.

However, there are no QR codes on signboards put up on main roads or main junctions like the Jayanagar 4th Block market area or its neighbourhood like the BMTC bus depot or the Shree Gangamma Devi Temple.

“At the main junctions and main roads, we have mechanisms already in place which take care of the civic issues and maintenance. We have targeted residential and residential-cum-commercial layouts in the south zone for putting up the QR codes as residents of these areas have issues figuring out whom to contact to solve their issues,” Manjunath said.

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