Vile Parle residents get an app-t solution to civic issues

THE APP CALLED VIA 70 IS USED BY MORE THAN 900 VILE PARLE RESIDENTS

MUMBAI: A Vile Parle corporator has launched a one-of-a-kind comprehensive mobile phone app for citizens to send suggestions on civic works and lodge complaints related to civic issues in their constituency.

The app called Via 70, used by more than 900 Vile Parle residents, also gives info on pending works and upcoming projects.

According to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Sunita Mehta from ward no. 70, 126 of the 166 complaints lodged have been closed.

Mehta said, “The application has a suggestion window and an online group chat where all users are added automatically. Their suggestions are considered and discussed with officials before initiating any work in the ward.

For instance, a pathway was decided to be constructed in one of the slums here, however, local residents said a women’s toilet was more important. Following this, work orders for a toilet were issued.”

The complaint redressal mechanism of the mobile application escalates the issues from a junior engineer of the particular department to the ward officer if the complaints are not addressed within two days.

The app has mapped all departments and contact numbers of respective officials working in that department. Users can lodge complaints directly with the official concerned of that particular department

The app is the brainchild of former Aam Aadmi Party leader Mayank Gandhi. Hiten Shah, member of Sarvottam Society, said the app has been a great relief since writing complaints to the ward office takes six to seven days to reach the officer concerned, while the app addresses it within few hours.

Mehta said they have targeted 3,000 users on the app as soon as possible. “We have visited 28-30 societies so far to educate them about the app. We need all citizens of our ward to come in direct contact with us through this app,” added Mehta .