The Greater Chennai Corporation, on Aug.25, launched a groundbreaking service, enabling residents to access all civic services via a WhatsApp Chatbot. Inaugurated by Mayor R. Priya, this is the first such initiative in Tamil Nadu.
The new service, accessible via the number 9445061913, offers citizens a convenient, 24/7 platform to handle a wide range of tasks from home. The Chatbot provides access to 32 different services, which include:
- Birth and death certificates
- Property tax and professional tax payments
- Trade license applications
- Document verification
- Community hall bookings
- Pet licenses
- Town planning services
- Market rentals
- Building plan approvals
- Information on public toilets, parks, playgrounds, crematoriums, Amma canteens, and urban primary health centres.
The user-friendly Chatbot supports both English and Tamil and provides information on local corporation offices. The next phase will integrate services from the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) and the Tamil Nadu Registration Department.
In a related move, the Mayor also launched a new QR code payment system for property tax and professional tax, to be installed across all corporation and related offices, as well as e-Sevai centres. The ceremony was attended by Corporation Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran and other senior officials.
