Self-service tourist info kiosks lie defunct in Amritsar

Under the Smart City project ‘Explore Amritsar’, self-service tourist information kiosks installed at various locations across the city to assist visitors in locating key destinations have largely failed to serve their intended purpose. Most of these kiosks have turned defunct, raising serious questions over planning, execution and maintenance under the project.

When the project was launched in 2022, Amritsar Smart City Limited (ASCL) had announced the installation of tourist information kiosks at 20 locations as part of a pilot initiative.

These locations included prominent tourist and public places such as the War Memorial, Urban Haat, Partition Museum, Valmiki Tirath Sthal, VR Ambarsar (basement and fifth floor), Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama, Durgiana Mandir, Sada Pind, Jallianwala Bagh near the post office, Hall Bazaar near Ramada, Golden Temple Plaza, Mall of Amritsar (ground and second floors), Gobindgarh Fort, Shaheed Baba Deep Singh, Lawrence Road, Nehru Complex, and bus stand platform numbers 8 and 55.

However, within just three years, most of these kiosks have turned into junk. Officials had earlier claimed that the Tourist Information Kiosk Centres would provide multiple services, including information about the city, transport facilities, booking services and emergency assistance. The kiosks were designed to offer both push- and pull-based information services along with query-based assistance.

Additionally, the systems were supposed to provide location-based queries for nearby tourist attractions, driving directions, and information on bus, train and Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) schedules. Emergency features such as panic buttons, direct toll-free communication with city administration departments, and information on nearby emergency facilities were also promised.

However, a survey revealed that many kiosks are non-functional. Several screens remain blank, while others are covered with dust, posters or scratches. In many locations, exposed wiring has raised serious safety concerns.

Residents alleged that the project has become a symbol of wasteful public spending. “These kiosks were installed with much fanfare, but today they are useless. Instead of helping people, they have turned into eyesores,” said Joginder Kumar, a local shopkeeper.

Officials associated with the Smart City Mission said maintenance issues and technical faults were responsible for the problem and claimed that efforts are being made to rectify all technical issues.