Following a High Court directive, the Chennai Corporation is in a scramble to make its civic helpline toll free for all residents. Currently, most of the residents who call 1913 are forced to shell out at least Rs.5 to 10 for each complaint on civic issues.
The High Court had asked the Corporation in June to provide a toll-free helpline for residents to report civic grievances such as building rule violations.
Sources in the Corporation said the helpline was toll free only for two service providers. Lakhs of residents registered with other service providers had to pay for registering complaints, mostly related to roads, streetlights, storm water drains, parks, building violation, or public health. The Corporation, however, continues to claim that the helpline is ‘toll free’ in its press releases, misleading residents.
“Many residents are unable to call 1913. The Corporation should do this as another service to the people. The Corporation should make the helpline toll free immediately,” S. Mangal, Raj, former councillor, said.
“I usually maintain a balance of only around Rs.25 on the mobile. Recently, I reported poor garbage clearance. The line got disconnected. I was unable to report properly,” J. Nagarajan of Chintadripet said.
Corporation officials said efforts would be taken to make the helpline toll free. On Monday, as many as 344 calls were received by the call centre at Ripon Buildings. But only 158 complaints were registered. Many of the residents who reportedly called 1913 said they were unable to register civic complaints because their phones did not have adequate balance.
Following reports of building violations in George Town, the High Court had asked the Corporation to commission a dedicated toll-free helpline to report building rule violations. At least five lakh buildings in the city are estimated to be constructed with deviations or without proper building approval or planning permission.
