From tackling sanitation and waste management challenges to leveraging technologies like AI for greater citizen engagement, Nagar Nigam Dehradun is redefining urban governance through enhanced transparency, active public participation, and innovative solutions. Namami Bansal, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Nagar Nigam Dehradun, shares insights into the evolving challenges and forward-looking initiatives of the city’s civic administration in an exclusive conversation with Krishna Mishra of Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts:

What are some of the core challenges you face as the administrator of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation?

The Dehradun Municipal Corporation underwent a significant expansion about seven years ago with the addition of 40 new wards. Most of these are peripheral areas located far from the city centre, and they come with their own unique set of challenges.

One major concern is monitoring door-to-door waste collection and ensuring that our Paryavaran Mitras (sanitation workers) complete their tasks effectively and on time. Cleanliness and sanitation are among the most pressing issues we address daily.

We receive a high volume of complaints, so ensuring timely redressal is critical. While we have multiple platforms, including an app, website, and toll-free numbers, for citizens to raise issues, we are constantly working to make this process simpler and more responsive.

To strengthen solid waste management, we have deployed 25 vehicles to enhance door-to-door waste collection across the city and introduced six tractor trolleys dedicated specifically to the efficient collection and transportation of green waste.

A dedicated mobile number has been assigned to each door- to-door waste collection vehicle. These numbers are also being published in newspapers so that citizens can directly contact the service and provide feedback on waste collection.

We have installed two compost machines at Shankarpur Gaushala as a pilot project for organic composting. Additionally, eight more machines will be installed at four different locations for the same purpose.

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Two German technology-based vacuum mechanised road sweeping machines have been deployed in the city. These machines feature high-capacity suction technology to capture particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10, along with GPS-enabled monitoring to track routes and coverage.

We are transforming the open dumpsites at Kargi and Dhoran into mechanised transfer stations. Incoming waste is emptied into three compactors on covered platforms, where it is compacted into capsules. These capsules are then transported in enclosed vehicles to Sheeshambada.

Fifteen e-auto tippers have been deployed in narrow lanes for solid waste collection. Each has a capacity of one tonne, enhancing waste collection coverage.

A drone monitoring system has been introduced by Nagar Nigam Dehradun to track open dumping activities across 15 wards.

To further strengthen monitoring, we have launched an Integrated Command and Control Centre, which serves as a centralised hub for overseeing sanitation and other civic services. We have also introduced a WhatsApp-based messaging system for tax collection and are working towards launching an AI-powered chatbot to streamline grievance redressal and public interaction.

A QR-code-based online appointment system has been launched as a pilot project to streamline the registration of birth and death certificates.

A newly redeveloped website, nndehradun.uk.gov.in, redesigned under the leadership of Municipal Commissioner Namami Bansal, was inaugurated at the Mukhya Sevak Sadan by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami in the august presence of the Hon’ble Mayor.

For women’s safety and improved sanitation, Pink Toilets have been constructed. These are dedicated public washrooms for women and include facilities such as sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators, feeding rooms with furniture, free Wi-Fi, toys for children, baby chairs, selfie points, selfie sticks, and hair dryers. These initiatives aim to improve safety, convenience, and accessibility. Grey Toilets refer to regular unisex or general public toilets.

To strengthen urban mobility, six new projects have been undertaken under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), focusing on pedestrian-friendly development and integrated urban greening.

A water fountain near NIVH has been developed under the National Clean Air Programme to enhance aesthetics, reduce dust dispersion, and improve local air quality.

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Under urban greening initiatives, Nagar Nigam Dehradun has unveiled a Greening Policy to transform the city into a green, climate-resilient, and eco-friendly urban centre. Launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, the policy targets developing 35 percent of the city’s area as green space, covering 68.75 square kilometres, compared to the current 51 square kilometres.

Plantation of one lakh saplings has been undertaken across locations such as Panash Valley, Kargi, IT Park, Danda Lakhod, the Harrawala zonal office, and other parts of the city.

The largest park developed by Nagar Nigam Dehradun after Gandhi Park, named Yoga Park, has been opened for residents. Located near the Rispana River in Kedar Puram, the park spans six hectares. In addition, Nehru Colony Park and Rajat Jayanti Park are operational for citizens, and proposals for 12 more parks are currently under process.

Alongside these initiatives, a dedicated vending zone has been constructed over a covered area of 340 square metres. This includes 49 standardised shops in Jakhan and 56 standardised shops in Patel Nagar. The initiative aims to provide regulated spaces for street vendors, reduce encroachment on roads and footpaths, improve cleanliness, streamline traffic movement, and ensure a safer and legal livelihood base for vendors.

How are you encouraging greater public participation in civic governance?

Citizen engagement, or Jan Bhagidari, begins with effective communication between the Municipal Corporation and the public. Eliminating information asymmetry is crucial, as it often leads to confusion or mistrust.

One recent initiative involves assigning a unique mobile number to each garbage collection vehicle, allowing residents to track collection status, register complaints, or directly contact the team in real time without intermediaries.

In tax collection, we observed a last-minute rush towards the end of the financial year. To address this, we launched a WhatsApp-based payment system in February. Residents receive a message with a “Pay Now” option, and upon payment, they immediately receive a digital receipt that can be stored and accessed at any time.

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Our broader vision aligns with the principle of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.” We aim to make civic services more transparent, citizen-centric, and technology-driven.

Does the Municipal Corporation manage health and education services directly?

Currently, Nagar Nigam Dehradun does not operate any health or education institutions. However, we are actively working to revive our municipal dispensaries. Earlier, when we functioned as a Nagar Palika, there were 10 operational dispensaries. The process to reinstate them is underway to address local healthcare needs.

With AI transforming governance globally, how do you see it being used within the Municipal Corporation?

Artificial Intelligence represents the future, and integrating it
into civic administration is now essential.

We have recently launched an AI-powered chatbot called Nigam Saathi, designed to provide citizens with quick, seamless, and interactive access to civic services.

A key feature of this chatbot is a built-in feedback and rating mechanism for citizens to evaluate developmental works undertaken by Nagar Nigam Dehradun. This initiative, called CAPA, or Citizen Audit of Public Assets, enables residents to actively participate in monitoring and evaluating public infrastructure and services, ensuring greater transparency, accountability, and citizen-centric governance.

Each year, we create multiple public assets such as roads and parks. AI enables us to collect feedback on usability, design, and overall impact, which helps in better planning and prioritisation of future projects while fostering public ownership and trust in governance.

Finally, could you outline the short-, medium-, and long-term priorities for the Dehradun Municipal Corporation?

Certainly:

• Short-term priorities include addressing urgent seasonal challenges such as waterlogging, drainage issues, and disaster preparedness, particularly during the monsoon.
• Medium-term goals focus on completing ongoing development projects initiated by the current board and remediating two legacy waste sites by converting them into urban forests and parks.
• Long-term objectives involve positioning Dehradun among India’s top-performing municipal corporations, especially in solid waste management, citizen service delivery, and smart city infrastructure.

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