The Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL), in close coordination with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), has planned a comprehensive overhaul of the smart digital kiosks installed under the Smart City project. As many as 75 ultra-modern digital kiosks were set up across Bhubaneswar to provide real-time city information to visitors, assist in booking bus and train tickets and offer emergency support such as helpline numbers and location guidance. However, many of these kiosks have remained non-functional, drawing criticism from residents and urban planning experts.
Officials said the move to revive the kiosks came after concerned citizens highlighted the issue on TOI’s Citizen Reporter portal, prompting authorities to review the status of the stalled infrastructure.
Citizen reporter Ishan Singh said on the TOI’s that most of Bhubaneswar’s smart digital kiosks have been lying defunct since years now. “They are meant to provide visitors with information about the city. It can also help browse the internet, book buses or train tickets. It also has an emergency button to help people in distress, but almost all the kiosks remain non-functional,” Singh said, urging the authorities to revive the service.
BSCL general manager Purandar Nanda said that the kiosks are currently non-operational due to hardware faults, software issues and lack of regular maintenance. “We have decided to take up a comprehensive restoration of the kiosks,” he added.
According to BSCL, the restoration work would include repair, software upgrades and better upkeep mechanisms. The revival plan also includes reassessing the locations of the kiosks to ensure better visibility and usage.
Citizen reporter Suchismita Ojha stated that these smart kiosks were envisioned as vital touchpoints for civic convenience and public safety. “Their prolonged non-functionality not only points towards wasted public funds but also undermines citizens’ trust in smart city initiatives,” she added.
According to BMC officials, the kiosks will be linked with updated civic data, transport schedules and emergency response systems. “The objective is to make them genuinely useful for tourists, commuters and citizens. Once revived, they can play an important role in improving public access to information,” a civic body official said.
Residents welcomed the move but stressed the need for accountability. “These kiosks were showcased as symbols of a smart city. Reviving them is a welcome step, but regular monitoring is essential so that public money is not wasted again,” Trinath Barik, a resident of Saheed Nagar, said.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Sandip Mishra
Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: The Times of India, 26.03.2026
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