This important step under India’s Smart Cities Mission involved the launch of the Digital House Address Project by the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC), which uses QR codes and GPS to replace current address systems. Once established, the Pilot project can now change the way urban administration is practiced in cities, beginning with improved service delivery for urban citizens, and opportunities to standardise India’s irregular address system.
The Digital House Address Project was recently launched with an active pilot in Ward 82 of Sudama Nagar, and the next steps in rolling the project out further across the city. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first QR code based address plates installed in India, readily integrated with the Digipin initiative, the pilot is shaping up to be an example of a scalable digital infrastructure for cities across India.
In parallel, New Delhi’s NDMC is also preparing to launch their own version of the project, which represents a growing trend towards digitising address formats across the country.
Important features of the Digital House Address Project
• The QR-coded plates are granting to every household in urban Indore, carved out of metal with a unique QR code for every house.
• The QR codes are reference a geographic co-ordinate, which links the QR codes to the unique property every QR code will identify.
• The address is a reference to the central government’s postal index number initiative, Digital Postal Index Number (Digipin).
• Citizens will be able to pay taxes, raise complaints, and access utility service providers, all with a simple mobile scan.
• This is consistent with India’s current Smart Cities and Digital India initiatives.
Aim and Objectives
- Simplify address identification
- Enhance service delivery
- Improve emergency response
- Digitise civic interaction
- Create data-driven governance
History, Static Facts
• Pilot launched in Ward 82 of Sudama Nagar, Indore.
• The first project of its type in India.
• Connected with the national Digipin database.
• QR-based plate as digital address ID.
• Sanctioned by Madhya Pradesh Urban Development Department.
Advantages and Significance
• Efficiency of Services: allows by fast and accurate service delivery of municipal services.
• Emergency Support: ambulance/police/hard services will be able to reach an address without confusion to location.
• Digital Governance: allows for propriety mapping and real-time grievance redressal.
• Urban Planning: allows for the city to have relevant and accurate data for developmental decisions.
• E-commerce: will allow for easier delivery in cities with no addresses.
