Telangana’s Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration (CDMA) has initiated a specialised WhatsApp channel to simplify the tax payment procedure for local citizens. This service is free of charge and also provides up-to-date information on taxes.

CDMA’s WhatsApp Chatbot Services

People can simply send a 'Hello' to CDMA, the official WhatsApp account of Telangana, on +91 9000 253342, to easily access these services and pay taxes conveniently via a debit card, credit card or web banking. The chatbot is currently available in English and Telugu and soon CDMA will add Urdu.

The 'CDMA, Telangana Tax Module' is an automated 'Chatbot' service that has made it possible for city officials to substitute visits and allow contactless transactions in the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic. The WhatsApp-based service will also boost tax collections massively.

KT Rama Rao, Telangana's Municipal and Urban Development Minister, stated that new citizen service on WhatsApp has already delivered positive results and feedback in line with their Digital Telangana initiatives. He thanked the team from WhatsApp for its assistance in the establishment of this service. In order to make these services resourceful to the public, the government is also planning to add more services to the WhatsApp chatbot on CDMA.

WhatsApp has increasingly become a favourite platform for conversations, not just between friends, business and customers, but between governments and citizens since the onset of the pandemic. Shivnath Thukral, Head of Public Policy, WhatsApp India expressed he was humbled to see how WhatsApp brings value to the country in a number of ways.

The CDMA, Telangana is also developing a WhatsApp service to support the payment of water charges and of other municipal services on a daily basis, such as the application for birth and death certificates, complaints, water links, building authorisations, trade licences, etc.

The WhatsApp-based channel offers citizens all the necessary information and a direct link to apply for these services online. The key information on the Covid-19 rollout of vaccines in Telangana will also be included at CDMA.

How is Property Tax Paid by WhatsApp in Telangana? 

Step 1: Send 'Hello' to the official WhatsApp account of the CDMA on +91 90002 53342. 

Step 2: chatbot in English and Telugu is currently available. Enter the language you desire to use to proceed. For instance, type 'B' in English. 

Step 3: Select the service that you want to use. Suppose, simply enter '1' in the chat window to Know and Pay Property Tax Telangana. 

Step 4: When you type '1,' you are asked to continue paying the tax using your PTIN number or house number, either by means of identification. Make the choice and pay your Telangana property tax.  

Step 5: Select the service you wish to use your debit card, credit card or even Internet banking, to access and pay your property tax. 

KT Rama Rao, Telangana's Minister of Municipal and Urban Development, informed that this initiative, that our citizens are still paying their taxes via POS machines, or citizen service centers, with close to 20 lakh property tax assessments throughout urban local authorities. The government have introduced a citizen service on WhatsApp that already provides positive findings and feedback, in line with our Digital Telangana initiatives. 

Additional Services by CMDA  

Besides property taxes, the following services may also be used by citizens: 

• Tax on property know and pay 

• Self-evaluation of property tax  

• Connection to the water tap 

• License for trade and renewal 

• Authorization to build/layout  

• Advertising Signage License  

• Approval of mobile tower 

• Death certificate service and birth certificate 

• Grievance Redressal 

• Charter for Citizens 

The CDMA is also planning to launch additional services, for instance, water bill payments, COVID-19 vaccines, etc. to provide every service a one-stop platform. In the municipal government of Telangana, the CDMA is the highest authority, and leads companies and municipalities in their duties in parallel with the law and policies. The CDMA also manages and monitors the implementation and development of specific programmes such as the AMRUT, the smart cities, etc. 

Telangana has seen a higher tax collection in FY 2020-21 than last year, not only economic growth and agriculture in the state. This time Rs 703.32 crore from 141 urban local bodies (ULBs) toward Rs.561.05 crore was collected in fiscal year 2019-20 as property tax collections. 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

• Can I request a CDMA water tap connection? 

Yes, you can. Get your official WhatsApp number in contact with the CDMA. You must register online and provide the information you need. It takes 14 days for such requests to be made available. 

• How can I approach the CDMA for complaint redress? 

Login to Citizen Buddy mobile app and register all complaints relating to sanitation, supply of water, street light and so forth and track your complaints. 

• What is the WhatsApp number of CDMA Telangana? 

 +91 90002 53342 is the CDMA Telangana WhatsApp number. 

By: Shailaja K