CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is planning to transform its official website and Namma Chennai mobile application into a unified citizen-centric digital platform that will introduce a wide range of public services that even extends beyond the corporation’s purview.
The project, estimated to cost Rs2.62 crore, is expected to be completed within one year from the issuance of the work order.
Speaking to TNIE, a corporation official from the IT cell said, “Earlier, the app and web portal primarily offered GCC-related services only. However, we now plan to completely rebuild these platforms aiming to create a single digital interface that serves Chennai residents across various aspects of urban life, expanding its scope.”
These platforms, once upgraded, are expected to provide seamless access to civic services, mobility services, tourism services, government payments, public amenities, citizen engagement initiatives, and other approved government and partner services. Surveys, public consultations, feedback and rating mechanisms will also be incorporated.
An AI-powered chatbot will assist residents in accessing services, submitting requests and completing transactions through integration with government databases, authentication systems and payment gateways. It will also offer personalised service recommendations, notifications, reminders and context-aware suggestions.
Residents will be able to view grievance status, payment history, saved and frequently accessed services, upcoming activities in the city and personalised recommendations through the dashboard. The platform will strengthen grievance redressal by enabling citizens to submit complaints with photo and video evidence, track progress and receive updates.
Other than existing features, the portal will also feature a tourism and city exploration module containing information on tourist attractions, heritage sites, museums, cultural destinations and recreational spaces. Services such as maps, trip planning tools, nearby attraction discovery and visitor information will be included. Tourism-related ticketing will be made available along with guided tours, group bookings, heritage walks and eco-tourism reservations.
A citywide news and information module will disseminate government announcements, public notices, emergency alerts, civic initiatives and administrative bulletins.The tender also proposes linking metro rail, city bus and inter-city bus ticketing systems, along with ride-hailing services such as auto and cab bookings featuring driver verification and SOS facilities.
Smart parking services covering on-street, residential, event, tourist-location and multi-level parking facilities will also be integrated. Features proposed include live availability updates, slot reservations, dynamic pricing, QR-based entry and exit, parking history and analytics.
Emergency services such as ambulance booking, disaster alerts, SOS services and emergency contact management, along with public health notifications, water supply alerts, sanitation and public infrastructure will also be a part of the platform.
GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran said, "One of our objectives is revenue generation. At present, we are developing a platform that is robust enough to integrate external booking and ticketing options. Marketing and identifying revenue avenues fall within the vendor’s scope. Based on the outcome and subject to feasibility, we will incorporate external ticketing and booking under a revenue-sharing model."
The contractor will provide product support for six months after launch and maintenance services for an additional year, an official added.
Other features:
Online booking and management services for parks, urban forests, zoological parks and botanical gardens, including membership management, event registration and QR-based entry.
Religious services such as darshan bookings, queue management, festival reservations, archana and abhishekam bookings, seva reservations and prasad management
Public amenities including schools, hospitals and libraries are to be mapped
