Ujjain : The plans of State government for bringing the Simhastha mela on to the fingertips is in doldrums as the developer company ‘IT Shastra’ is yet to gather data for the mobile applications. Now blame game has started over delay in delivery of the products.
The Mumbai based company IT Company has been entrusted the task of developing two mobile apps and a web portal with a consolidated cost of Rs 55 lakhs. The company is going to develop two mobile apps, one for common public and other for staff of the mela authority. The web portal will be used for human resources management system. The app for masses ‘Simhastha Mela-2016’ will work as virtual guide for the user and will have all the facilities for easing the experience of Simhastha mela. The app will have basic guiding, routes, locations of hospitality and alerts. While the other app and the web portal will be used by the government staff working in the Simhastha mela, for registering their presence and location. Duty charts, names, location, biometrics and other things related to their working will be uploaded to the portal, after which the portal and app will work in synchronisation.
The company was given 21 weeks for completion of software development but according to learnt sources the work progress is in infant stages. The company had started working on October 15, but till date over 11 weeks have passed away, and the developers are sitting squats.
The company developers are blaming the mela authorities for not providing them data and resources, which are contributing in the delay. Vice-president strategic consultancy, IT Shastra, Dhanraj Pardesi told Free Press that they are facing problems in procuring authenticated data of local service providers. He said the app would be a religion concentrated so the mythological data is also to be procured.
However, he denied commenting on work progress. He said they are entitled to deliver till February 27, but they will finish in January.
Further, Deputy Mela officer SS Rawat, looking over the IT works, when told about the status, he said it was never their duty to provide data. It is their duty to procure data, which is why they have been given the tender. He said the work is being delayed due to the laxity of the company developers and they are being given constant reminders and alerts to expedite.
He said the mela office will provide the data of biometrics and staff, out of which a part has been handed over to them, and soon the remaining will be given. They should have delivered us something by now, the company will face problems if delivery is not given in time, he added.
