TFP Bureau, Raipur, September 18, 2025 – Bilaspur is set to lead Chhattisgarh’s digital governance drive as it becomes the first municipal corporation in the state to launch a WhatsApp-based chatbot for citizen services. With this initiative, residents will soon be able to access a wide range of services, including property tax payments, building permits, complaint registration, and issuance of birth and death certificates, directly from their homes within minutes.
The Bilaspur Municipal Corporation has developed the facility in line with the Government of India’s Digital India vision. Officials said the chatbot will integrate Artificial Intelligence and meta-based technologies to provide prompt and user-friendly responses. Citizens will be required to save the corporation’s dedicated WhatsApp number – +91 88157 82574 – and initiate interaction by sending a simple “handshake” or “Namaste” message. The system will then display a menu of available services, guiding users step by step to complete their requests without visiting municipal offices. To ensure wider participation, the corporation will promote the chatbot through its official website and social media handles.
Alongside this technological innovation, Bilaspur Municipal Corporation is also launching a “Clean Ward Challenge” to boost civic participation in cleanliness efforts. Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Tokhan Sahu announced the competition, under which all wards in Bilaspur will be surveyed monthly. The cleanest ward, based on sanitation and compliance with cleanliness standards, will be awarded an additional ₹10 lakh for development projects.
In a bid to extend the spirit of cleanliness beyond everyday civic spaces, the corporation will also introduce a “Clean Durga Puja Pandal” contest this year, modeled on the successful Clean Ganesh Pandal competition. The three cleanest Durga Puja pandals will be recognized with first, second, and third prizes.
Officials emphasized that the twin initiatives—digital access to municipal services and citizen-driven cleanliness campaigns—reflect Bilaspur’s growing emphasis on smart governance and community involvement. With the chatbot facility, residents can look forward to faster, transparent, and hassle-free services, while the Clean Ward Challenge is expected to inspire greater accountability and pride among neighborhoods.
By combining digital technology with grassroots civic engagement, Bilaspur is positioning itself as a model for urban governance in Chhattisgarh, taking another step toward modern, people-friendly, and sustainable urban living.
