BDA to ease access to information

BDA to install kiosks across city
Know If Your Neighbour Has Violated Norms
Times of India

Bangalore: The huge multistoried commercial complexes in residential areas snatching away the peace of residents is the norm of the day. Official apathy, involvement of elected representatives coupled with palmgreasing tactics ensures that a building plan is sanctioned just anywhere notwithstanding the land use sanctions.Though much has been talked about the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP),the concept has not reached the common man. Now, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is venturing into a project to make the city maps, area maps available to every citizen.

If you think your neighbour is violating the land use permission and want to know the land use pattern or if you want to know what the vacant site near your is house is meant for,just try your hand at the information kiosk that the BDA is all set to unveil.Apart from giving information about the services and selling applications, the kiosk is also Geographical Information Systems (GIS) compatible which will give printed copies of the area maps,identifying the open spaces, civic amenity sites, parks and playgrounds,roads and drains in the area.

The BDA is the third organisation after BCC and BWSSB to set up customerfriendly information kiosks to cut down citizens’ visit to the BDA office. BDA commissioner M.N. Vidyashankar told The Times of India that initially, 25 kiosks will be installed at strategic locations and the number will be gradually increased. The kiosks can be used to pay property tax, download site applications, khata applications, get information about sale deeds, auctionable sites, status of layout approval, authorised layouts, civic amenity sites and will give printouts of the city map. A nominal charge for these services will be charged.

Each kiosk will cost between Rs 8-9 lakh and the first machine will be installed by December. Our kiosks will have printers attached to print applications and maps. We want our customers to reduce their visits to BDA office so that allthe necessary details are obtained from the kiosks. These machines will be ergonomically perfect with least complexity in operations", Vidyashankar explained. The kiosk culture was introduced in the city by BWSSB which has over 50 KaverEcom kiosks functioning round the clock. The BCC has also introduced four kiosks which is being used to download various applicationsand the machines are stationed at its central office and three zonal offices.