BDA to add more services under Sakaala

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which offers 12 of its essential services through Sakaala is contemplating to add more services through the State Government initiative.

In the words of the BDA Commissioner, T Sham Bhatt, the services currently on offer through Sakaala are all ‘fringe’ benefits to the citizens. “We are now getting additional pressure to add more services under the Sakaala scheme,” he informs.

Now on offer through Sakaala are services related to Khatas, Occupancy Certificates, Possession Certificates, Commencement Certificates and other nominal services which do not yield much revenue to the BDA or provide benefits to the citizens. According to BDA officials, these services are being seen as “Fringe”,  because most parts of BDA layouts are under the BBMP purview. “Citizens come to the BDA for various other services and are not much concerned with those added under Sakaala,” explains Bhatt.

In adopting technology, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has had a degree of success, particularly in the area of online bill payment introduced seven months ago. Facilities such as applications for new connections, renewals and lodging complaints are now available online.

But the game changer for BWSSB could be the GIS-linked mapping of pipeline leakages. The BWSSB headquarters in Cauvery Bhavan has a centre that tracks laying of pipelines within a few hours using that technology. If an interactive system is worked out where a response team is despatched the moment some leak is reported online, or even through a mobile platform, that should usher in big change.