OAS probationers visit Bhubaneswar Operations Centre

Bhubaneswar: 95 probationers from the Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) visited the Bhubaneswar Operations Centre (BOC) to have knowledge on the operations and utility of the command and control centre for the smart city project.

Led by Joint Commissioner of Gopabandhu Academy of Administration Prafulla Swain, the probationers were delighted to see the state-of-the-art facility, which would manage the city operations-traffic, surveillance, disaster preparedness, grievance redressal and many other activities under a single roof.

The first-of-its-kind centralized command and control centre to monitor, operate, and control existing services of the city, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 9.

The Adaptive Traffic Signal System, tracking of buses and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation vehicles along with Grievance Redressal System is being operationalised at present from BOC.

General Manager (Operations) of BSCL Bijay Kumar Swain explained how the operations centre was envisaged to be developed further in a manner to keep an eye on several functions like traffic management, incident management, city surveillance, emergency services and disaster management.

He also briefed the probations about other components of the Smart City Proposal and their progress. BSCL Chief Financial Officer Arabinda Routray also spoke about the financial components of the various projects.

Sambit Satpathy, a probationer said, “I am happy to see this command and control centre and really proud that the being our State Capital, Bhubaneswar has done such progress during the development of the Smart City.”

Rupalika Das added that the technological innovations for the city’s development and citizen’s welfare speak a lot about the meaningful implementation of the Smart City ideas.

Akankhya Abhijita, another probationer said that apart from the technological, infrastructural development the social development involving slums, adolescent girls and women under the Smart City Proposal speaks about its inclusive approach.

Souvagya Panda, another probationer enquired about the grievance redressal system of BOC and how the control room coordinated with the civic authorities recently during the incessant rains resulting in urban flooding at several pockets across the city.

Currently, a citizen can call BOC on 24X7 basis through toll-free and landline numbers for redressal of his/her grievance.

Sankalp Swastik Sahu called on the 18003450061 to check the efficiency of the grievance redressal system to redress a complaint relating to his own house in Baramunda.

After visiting the BOC the probationers also visited the BSCL office and interacted with several project leaders to know more about the Smart City work.