Ghaziabad: To tighten coordination between elected representatives and the administration, Ghaziabad will set up a district contact and command centre (DCCC) called ‘Samvad Setu'. The move follows a proposal raised earlier this week in the legislative assembly about repeated complaints regarding officials not responding to calls from public representatives, therefore delaying welfare work.
Under the new mechanism, if a gazetted officer does not respond to a call from a public representative within 10 minutes, the representative will be able to inform the command centre. The centre will then immediately alert the concerned officer and ensure that a callback is made. "The coordination will be monitored until confirmation is received. Every interaction will be digitally logged," a senior district official said.
The system will function only on working days and during official hours, and will be applicable strictly to govt-issued CUG numbers.
On Wednesday, following directions from the assembly speaker, minister of state for social welfare Asim Arun held a virtual meeting with the district magistrates of Hardoi, Ghaziabad and Kannauj. At the meeting, it was decided that the system will be implemented in these three districts from Feb 25. "The objective is to establish direct, timely and record-based communication between public representatives and officials so that public welfare work does not suffer due to avoidable communication gaps," said the minister, who had first flagged concerns over officials not responding to calls from elected representatives.
The command centre will operate through a dedicated smartphone and specialised software that will record response times and maintain performance data of officers. At least three trained operators will be deployed on a rotational and backup basis to ensure uninterrupted functioning of the centre.
Officials said the centre will also maintain real-time information about whether an official is on duty, on leave or attending training. "If an official is unavailable, the public representative will be informed immediately and guided to the designated substitute official. This will reduce unnecessary escalation and confusion," the official added.
Those who demonstrate consistent responsiveness may be acknowledged, while repeated lapses will be reported to the govt, officials said. The initiative is expected to strengthen accountability within the administrative machinery and ensure quicker resolution of public grievances, they added.
Ashni Dhaor is a Special Correspondent with the Times of India, w...
Read MoreAshni Dhaor is a Special Correspondent with the Times of India, with over a decade of experience across print, electronic, and digital media. She specialises in long-form features, grassroots civic-policy investigations, and human-interest stories, covering urban development, local governance, nightlife, and evolving lifestyle trends in Noida and Ghaziabad.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment