Long line to Online

That, computers and the power of the Internet is coming of age in India is more represented by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's online property tax payment facility than Nandan Nilekani's joining the NAUI. Citibank was, perhaps, the first bank to go online in India. Indian Railways made short work of long queues at railway stations through it online portal IRCTC. What took several hours now takes just minutes. What a relief!

Now, the BBMP has enabled its website to accept online property tax payment. Though the site looks rudimentary, it works well. Paying property tax online,today, has saved me atleast an hour which includes the time to commute and time in the queue.

Already, airlines, railways, cinemas, banks, retail business and several government agencies have gone online. As more organizations go online the need to commute and spend time on unproductive activities will reduce. This will free scarce time and expensive resources.

The next time you need to commute or stand in a queue to get your job done, check if the work can be done online. Navigate using your mouse not the steering wheel!

Lord Ganesha's vehicle is the mouse. Yours needs to be too if we have to contribute to save the world from global warming.