Bhubaneswar: Many of the digital kiosks, installed across the city at strategic locations to help residents access various services, have fallen into disrepair due to lack of maintenance, residents said.
The solar-powered kiosks, intended to facilitate bill payments, ticket booking, navigation and provide city information services, were strategically placed by Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) in localities (50) and at major transit points (25), including the bus stand and railway station.
Residents expressed disappointment over the poor condition of the facilities, which were installed under the Smart Digital Kiosk project, implemented by BSCL in 2019. “Initially, I mistook one for an ATM. These machines, equipped with display boards and mobile charging points, could be incredibly helpful if maintained properly,” said Harish Mishra, a resident of Acharya Vihar.
The kiosks were designed with multiple citizen-centric features such as digital payment, emergency service access, tourist information, mobile charging points, real-time navigation assistance, and public transport information.
Despite their potential to transform public service delivery, lack of regular maintenance and timely repair has rendered most of these machines non-operational. “These machines should be removed from public spaces if not made operational,” Prakash Sahoo, a resident of Patia, said.
Urban development experts suggested that proper maintenance protocols and dedicated staff should be put in place for regular upkeep and maintenance of the kiosks. “The current situation highlights the need for better project management in smart city initiatives,” urban planner Piyush Ranjan Rout said.
A senior BSCL official said the machines were meant to be a one-stop solution for digital needs of residents, but the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted their implementation plans. “Later, we faced manpower issues that hampered proper maintenance of the machines,” the official added.
BSCL officials said that plans are being formulated to revive the project, though no specific timeline has been provided. “Revival of the project will require proper planning and establishment of a maintenance system. We will deliberate on the matter,” BSCL managing director, N T Naik, said.
Manashi Mallik, a resident of Palaspalli, said Bhubaneswar has transformed itself under the Smart City Mission, but it needs to keep up with the journey. “The defunct kiosks serve as a reminder that successful implementation of smart projects requires sustained maintenance and management commitment,” she said.