Mangaluru City Corporation postpones proposal of introducing online app for trade licence

MANGALURU: When social distancing is a norm due to the pandemic, people in Mysuru have been demanding that all processes related to city corporation should be made online. However, a proposal to introduce an online app for people to apply and renew trade licences in Mangaluru city has been postponed by the city corporation again.
In fact, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has been planning to introduce an online platform for trade licence for the past 15 years. Though an agenda in this regard was brought before the first council meeting of the BJP-led council held on Thursday, the proposal has been postponed citing technical reasons.
The MCC had mooted the proposal again to introduce a software through Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (KEONICS). It was planned for the convenience of people to apply for a new trade license, renew or cancel the existing license and to process the applications. Applicants also will be allowed to check the status of application through a mobile application. The proposed app also will have features for the people to pay the trade license fee. Meanwhile, health inspectors, officers and admin of the portal will have separate apps to monitor and complete the process. An estimate of Rs 19 lakh was prepared to develop the software through KEONICS.
Former mayor and corporator Shashidhar Hegde told TOI that the introduction of software for trade licenses will help in increasing the revenue of city corporation. “The government should introduce a policy regarding the online trade license application system. Hubballi-Dharwad City Corporation has already introduced it successfully,” he said adding that the MCC has postponed the proposal in the last meeting held on Thursday. MCC commissioner Dinesh Kumar said a new proposal with changes in the software will be sent to the government.