The login page of the Namma Kovai citizen app, launched by the Coimbatore Corporation.
| Photo Credit: SIVA SARAVANAN S.
The Namma Kovai citizen mobile application, an initiative of the Coimbatore Corporation, has recorded limited usage among residents since its launch in April this year.
The app is intended to provide residents a single platform to access municipal services digitally. It lets users pay property tax, underground drainage and water charges, register complaints, and also request emergency services. It provides information such as contact details of officials and councillors, locations of children’s parks, schools, and tax collection centres, and allows residents to download birth certificates.
According to the Coimbatore Corporation, over 5,000 people have downloaded the app, so far.
Some residents have highlighted issues affecting usability. V. Swathi said, “Even though the user interface is simple, the payment option is not so. It redirects to the Citizen Web Portal, which is complex. Payments should be handled within the app itself. Property tax slabs and current rates should also be clearly displayed so that people know how the tax is calculated.”
Another user, K. Venkateswaran, said, “The app has problems with login and sign-up. We do not get OTPs and password recovery or new registration fails despite multiple attempts. These issues prevent residents from using the app.”
Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran said the app is still under trial. An AI chatbot is also under testing and plans are on to integrate Semmozhi Poonga ticketing.
On property tax payments, he said that based on user feedback, the Corporation has sought permission from the Directorate of Municipal Administration to allow payments directly through the app, instead of redirecting users to the Citizen Web Portal. The portal is a centralised system used by all Corporations and is linked with the Urban Tree Information System, which stores data such as birth certificates and property tax records. “More features will be added soon, and we also plan to promote the platform to increase usage,” he said.
Published – October 26, 2025 07:32 pm IST
