Calcutta goes online

Residents can pay their utility bills online

The eastern Indian metropolis of Calcutta has taken a step into the world of e-governance with the launch of an interactive web portal, Calmanac.

It is the first such site for a city corporation in India and the launch coincided with Calcutta's 310th anniversary.

Our city enjoys an international reputation for its glorious role in Indian history

Chief Minister Jyoti Basu

The webpage allows residents to pay taxes and secure permission to construct buildings.

It also enables them to lodge complaints with the city authorities to improve civic amenities in their neighbourhoods.

The BBC's Calcutta correspondent, Subir Bhaumik, says the move has enthused officials in the city which was once written off as an urban nightmare.

Embracing IT

Launching the site, West Bengal's veteran Marxist chief minister, Jyoti Basu, said his government was committed to develop the infrastructure for information technology and modernise governance in his state.

"This occasion happily coincides with the birthday of Calcutta. Our city enjoys an international reputation for its glorious role in Indian history," the chief minister said.

The city was once written off as an urban nightmare

Calcutta's new mayor, Subrata Mukherji, who belongs to the opposition Trinimool Congress party, was equally upbeat.

He said the portal would not only help Calcuttans living elsewhere to stay in touch with their city, but would also benefit residents to take advantage of services offered by the city corporation.

The website is divided into two sections - one on the city corporation and another on the city itself.

Storehouse

The section on the city - Calpedia, literally an encyclopedia on Calcutta - offers information on the city's history, heritage and cultural life.

Information on the city's heritage

Popular restaurants, clubs, hotels and other businesses are listed.

There is even a look at the history behind Calcutta's street names.

Computer ownership in the Calcutta is lower than the more advanced Indian cities such as Bombay and Bangalore.

But our correspondent says statistics suggest that Calcutta is fast catching up with the rest.

City officials now hope that the site will also help attract tourists to what was once the capital of British India.