In these times of frequent comparisons between aamchee Mumbai and Shanghai and every other global city, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), which enjoys the distinction of being the largest municipal corporation in the country, has launched its citizen portal dedicated to the citizens of Mumbai (www.mcgm.gov.in).

In what could prove a laudable effort at e-governance -- if only it is honestly implemented -- the portal aims at transforming the way in which our city lives and breathes... It claims that it will ensure 'freedom from queues' to Mumbaikars.

Enabled by solutions, consulting, and services by SAP AG, Siemens Information Systems, and ABM, the citizen portal is designed to address the needs of employees, corporates, and administrators through online availability of services backed-up by necessary infrastructure.

Some of the services offered by the portal include: birth and death certification, health care, MPFA licenses, trade licenses, hoarding licenses, advertisement licenses, complaints registration, nursing home and sonography, water works, etc.