Tired of begging autorickshaw drivers to take you to your destination? Your day ruined because he overcharged you? Worried that the second-hand car you're buying may have a ‘history'? Relax, the solution now lies at your fingertip. Literally. The city police have turned to mobile governance to address a host of such issues by which you can seek to address grievances and bugbears simply by sending an SMS.
The project is a Bangalore Traffic Police initiative to empower citizens who can find out if there's parking space at select malls, or the status of their traffic rules violations or even ownership details of second-hand vehicles.
If you're looking for parking space at Garuda Mall, Lido Mall, Royal Meenakshi Mall or Apollo Hospital, all you do is send an SMS. This works only in places that have computerised parking facilities and are wired to the police's Traffic Management Centre (TMC).
In the near future, the TMC will be connected to parking lots in Traffic Transit Management Centres run by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, a press note said here Friday.
Hotline number
The public can also contact the traffic police on its 24-hour hotline numbers 25588444 and 25588555 for traffic-related queries, suggestions and complaints.
False complaints
Meanwhile, the police have warned against misuse of the mobile governance service. “People should not misuse the service by sending false complaints. As they must use their handheld mobile phones, mischief mongers will be traced,” a senior officer said.
