Latest news with #CitizenReporter
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Rath committee members register on citizen reporter platform
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Members of the Rath Yatra committees on Saturday engaged in a discussion about TOI's Citizen Reporter initiative here, with the aim to familiarise themselves with the platform's functionality and its potential impact on local governance. The members expressed keen interest in the digital platform, which empowers citizens to report local issues directly on the website and mobile app. The interactive session highlighted the app's features, resulting in several committee members registering as citizen reporters. Satyabrata Dash from Kolathia Jagannath Temple committee said, "While people have always sought media attention for community issues, TOI's Citizen Reporter provides a direct channel to voice concerns and ensure they reach govt authorities. This initiative will immensely help us." The initiative has struck a chord with residents in dealing with persistent civic challenges, offering them a proactive role in addressing community issues. "The move towards citizen journalism reflects a broader trend where individuals transition from being passive news consumers to active contributors," said Dash. The platform is designed to bridge the gap between the public and authorities, ensuring that local concerns are not only heard but also addressed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Was Everyone's Dream Girl In 90's, This Is Her Now The Latest Article Undo "By enabling direct reporting, the initiative fosters a sense of community involvement and accountability. As more individuals embrace this form of journalism, it is expected to lead to more transparent and responsive governance," said Sakti Prasad Sahu from Badhei Banka Rath Yatra committee, Old Town. Sahu said there are several civic issues in Old Town area. "We can post the pictures and videos with required information on It is a good platform to report our own stories. My friends have also shown interest in using the interface," he added. The session concluded with a renewed commitment from the members to utilise the platform actively, marking a significant step towards enhanced civic engagement in the capital city. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
28-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
BMC to speed up drain, road works on city stretch after prod by citizen reporters
Advt Advt The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to expedite drain and road construction on the stretch between Mangala Mandir Square and an apartment in Nayapalli 's Behera Sahi area after citizen reporters flagged concerns about its poor had expressed concerns about piled-up soil, protruding iron rods and concrete plates occupying the carriageway, with rains making the situation worse for commuters."During the peak of the monsoon season , the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is undertaking road and drain construction , leading to significant construction debris and obstructions on the roads. The digging and accumulation of soil are making the roads slippery, especially with the rainfall. If urgent measures are not implemented, it could result in accidents," wrote Bisworanjan Dash on TOI's Citizen Reporter construction is going on, the around 500-metre stretch with remnants of removed drain covers and stagnant water along the under-construction road has turned into a safety hazard for pedestrians and the problem, citizen reporter Rudra Narayan Jena from Chadrasekharpur, wrote, "The numerous drain construction projects currently underway in Bhubaneswar have significantly disrupted daily life. Roads have been excavated, and the resulting clay makes them dangerously slippery. It seems the BMC could have planned these projects more effectively. Ideally, they should have been completed before the peak rainy season or scheduled to start after the rains."Behera Sahi spans from Gate 1 of Kalinga Stadium on one side to the Iskcon Temple on the other. In between, the internal roads either are pothole-filled, narrow or construction has been going on for a long Sulochana Das said she has instructed the works department to expedite the construction."I know the ongoing work is causing a little inconvenience. I told the officer concerned to fix it. There were several issues, including encroachment, which delayed road work on the stretch. Unless the drain work is finished, the road can't be constructed. So, it got delayed. But people will be relieved as measures will be taken to resolve the issues," Das told TOI.
Time of India
27-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
BMC to speed up drain, road works on city stretch after prod by citizen reporters
1 2 Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to expedite drain and road construction on the stretch between Mangala Mandir Square and an apartment in Nayapalli's Behera Sahi area after citizen reporters flagged concerns about its poor condition. Citizens had expressed concerns about piled-up soil, protruding iron rods and concrete plates occupying the carriageway, with rains making the situation worse for commuters. "During the peak of the monsoon season, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is undertaking road and drain construction, leading to significant construction debris and obstructions on the roads. The digging and accumulation of soil are making the roads slippery, especially with the rainfall. If urgent measures are not implemented, it could result in accidents," wrote Bisworanjan Dash on TOI's Citizen Reporter app. As construction is going on, the around 500-metre stretch with remnants of removed drain covers and stagnant water along the under-construction road has turned into a safety hazard for pedestrians and commuters. Highlighting the problem, citizen reporter Rudra Narayan Jena from Chadrasekharpur, wrote, "The numerous drain construction projects currently underway in Bhubaneswar have significantly disrupted daily life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Roads have been excavated, and the resulting clay makes them dangerously slippery. It seems the BMC could have planned these projects more effectively. Ideally, they should have been completed before the peak rainy season or scheduled to start after the rains. " Behera Sahi spans from Gate 1 of Kalinga Stadium on one side to the Iskcon Temple on the other. In between, the internal roads either are pothole-filled, narrow or construction has been going on for a long time. Mayor Sulochana Das said she has instructed the works department to expedite the construction. "I know the ongoing work is causing a little inconvenience. I told the officer concerned to fix it. There were several issues, including encroachment, which delayed road work on the stretch. Unless the drain work is finished, the road can't be constructed. So, it got delayed. But people will be relieved as measures will be taken to resolve the issues," Das told TOI.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
BMC to enforce pet ownership norms soon after citizen reporters raise concerns
Bhubaneswar: To address growing concerns over unregulated pet ownership in the capital city, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will soon implement its long-pending draft by-law, after citizen reporters highlighted the issue. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The regulations, initially drafted in 2022, were refined following consultations with the housing and urban development department. Officials said the department will soon issue a notification to enforce the new by-laws. Several residents have raised their concerns through TOI's Citizen Reporter portal about the lack of responsible pet ownership. Citizen reporter Suchismita Ojha wrote, "Pet dogs bring joy and companionship to many but they can also cause public inconvenience if not properly managed. This is the case in Bhubaneswar. We face noise disturbance, waste management issues and also face aggressive behaviour from the pet dogs. This should be regulated by the BMC with proper rules at the earliest." Another citizen reporter Nilima Rout wrote, "I love dogs, but ownership comes with responsibility. You can't just let your pet defecate anywhere." "Animal waste in public areas can lead to serious health issues, especially for children. There should be enforcement of fines to ensure cleanliness," wrote Ananya Mishra, another citizen reporter. Another citizen reporter, Jatin Das, wrote, "Some owners treat public parks like their garden. Dog poop, constant barking, and even aggression towards other people in the park — it's becoming a real problem." Officials said the BMC Registration and Proper Control of Dogs By-Laws were prepared in Nov 2022 and submitted to the housing and urban development department in March 2023 for approval. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The by-law proposes fines up to Rs 10,000 for violations such as failure to register dogs, allowing pets to defecate in public places, abandoning them or not keeping them on a leash. The by-law mandates compulsory registration of dogs over four-months-old and submission of vaccination and sterilisation certificates. Owners of unregistered dogs found roaming without a tag or chip will have to pay a detention fee of up to Rs 2,500 to retrieve their pet, as per the draft rules. City mayor Sulochana Das said the civic body did its part by drafting the by-laws and is also setting up infrastructure like dog parks. "The proposal was submitted to the govt, and now it is up to them to take the necessary steps," she said. BMC commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil told TOI that the govt wanted some correction and incorporation in the draft by-laws when it was first submitted. "We made the incorporation and resubmitted the proposal to the govt. It will be notified in a month," Patil said. Patil said while the new rules are likely to be approved soon, the civic body continues to undertake steps to improve pet-related infrastructure by developing dog parks and promoting responsible ownership.
