With the issue of illegal hawkers simmering in the city, the BMC will soon make available a software, on which citizens can upload pictures of unauthorised vendors in their area on the civic website and demand action against them.
The system is devised on the lines of a pothole tracking system. Citizens can download the new software application on their Android cellphones and can upload the pictures of hawkers they want to complain against on the website. The pictures will be sent to the encroachment removal and maintenance department of the respective ward offices for further action.
The system is based on a global positioning system, by which the location of a hawker can be traced. The complainant can also view the status of his or her complaint on the website. Once the complaint is attended to, the complainant will get a message on his cellphone about the same.
Civic standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale said, “The civic body has been receiving several complaints from residents about illegal hawkers in their areas. This system will give them an easy way to lodge protest against them and also to view the action taken on their complaint. The BMC will launch this software in the next 20 days.”
According to civic sources, if the ward officials don’t attend to a complaint in the stipulated time then the complaint will reflect in the system to higher officials like assistant municipal commissioner and then the deputy municipal commissioner of the encroachment removal department.
At the same time, the encroachment removal vans will also be installed with sensors so that its locations can be checked. Fines levied on the hawkers will also have to be filled online so that the receipts can be generated.