Accurate new city map will even show dustbin locations
To be developed using latest technology, the new base map will help BMC quickly and efficiently address civic issues ……………SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided for the first time to prepare the city’s base map with reference of longitude and latitude. The Geographical Information System (GIS) is being done to ensure a better survey of properties, water pipelines below and above the surface.
Deputy municipal commissioner (hydraulic), P Charankar, said that the BMC has decided to appoint the National Information Centre from Delhi as a consultant to conduct the survey of the entire city. “A physically integrated survey will be done using satellites, which will take over a year to complete,” he said.
“Our current maps are outdated and many newer landmarks are missing. This leads to confusion while addressing civic problems across the city. Once we have developed the new base map, we will be very accurate in pinpointing specific areas by referring to their longitude and latitude, even if landmarks change,” he added.
Elaborating on how the new map will help in civic work, a BMC official explained that presently, if an underground pipeline bursts, officials start digging at different locations, as many landmarks have changed. “But the new base map will surely help to locate the exact location,” he said.
The GIS will help add minute details of the city in the new map. “We will specify all utilities on the map – storm water drains, roads, water pipelines, sewerage lines, even locations of dustbins. These maps will constantly be updated,” added the official.
Revealing the corporation’s future plans, the official said that water meters would eventually be connected to this GIS system. “Not only will we be able to provide better services, we will also be able to control costs. It will also help in town planning, tax assessment and engineering development. It will benefit the public at large,” he said.
According to another civic officer, using GIS will bring efficiency, speedy decision, transparency to the corporation. “GIS is recognised as a ‘need of the hour’ technology. It will provide a comprehensive platform for data collection, storage and authorised and secure access to data. We have invited the expression of interest for floating the global tender,” he said.