Bhubaneswar, Sept 1: In a significant move towards enhancing digital governance, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched a WhatsApp chatbot for the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Sunday. This initiative is designed to provide residents with a more accessible and convenient way to access civic services.

The launch, which coincided with the state’s observance of Local Self-Governance Day, aims to digitize key services, making them available at the fingertips of Bhubaneswar’s residents. Through the new chatbot, users can avail over 20 essential services, including Property Tax payments, Trade License applications, and Sanitation requests—all via a dedicated WhatsApp number.

To use the service, citizens need to send a simple “Hi” message to the number ‘7653011832.’ The chatbot supports communication in three languages: English, Odia, and Hindi, ensuring wide accessibility.

Beyond basic services, the chatbot also offers an AI-powered “Chat with Us” feature. This allows residents to ask questions about ward details, BMC officials, and other relevant civic information. The goal is to reduce the need for in-person visits to BMC offices, saving time and improving overall service efficiency.

According to an official post from BMC on platform X (formerly Twitter), the chatbot utilizes advanced Conversational AI technology to consolidate various municipal services into a single, user-friendly platform. This integration is expected to make it much easier for citizens to navigate and access essential municipal services.

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