BBMP’s Sahaaya pulled from app stores, leaving citizens of Bengaluru in a lurch

Bengaluru: What was once a simple way to report civic issues has now turned into a challenge, as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has removed both the Sahaaya and Namma Bengaluru apps from online platforms.

However, individuals who already have the apps installed on their devices can still access them.

With no elected body in place, many residents have relied on the Sahaaya app to report grievances.

On an average, around 400 to 500 complaints are filed across the various platforms run by the BBMP, most of which involve minor issues such as garbage collection problems, broken streetlights, and potholes. Many citizens without political backing have used the app to fix local issues.

Not available

Now, for the past month, residents have not been able to download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.

Nithin M, an IT professional from Bellandur, shared his concerns, stating that he could not file a complaint because the app was no longer available on these platforms. “The BBMP may have deactivated the app or hidden it,” he said.

Recently, the BBMP upgraded the Sahaaya app and merged it with the Namma Bengaluru app to incorporate agencies like the BWSSB and Namma Metro. This was aimed at streamlining the grievance reporting process in the city.

The BBMP was unaware that the app had been pulled from the stores as it is managed by a private agency. “We’ll resolve the issue within a week,” said a BBMP official.

‘Ineffective’

However, there have also been citizens who are critical of the app’s effectiveness.

A Janardhan, a resident of Jalahalli, claimed that despite filing over 300 complaints, the response from engineers had been unsatisfactory. “The government’s Janaspandana platform has been much more responsive to grievances,” he said.