Technical Glitches Halt Telangana’s New Ration Card Online Application Process

Hyderabad Residents Frustrated as MeeSeva Portal Faces Outages

Hyderabad: Thousands of Hyderabad residents are struggling to apply for new ration cards and add family members to existing ones as Telangana’s new online application system via MeeSeva faces severe technical issues.

The Civil Supplies Department, in collaboration with MeeSeva and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), recently launched an online system to streamline the ration card application process. The initiative aimed to curb duplicate applications and ensure only eligible households receive food security benefits. However, the transition has been anything but smooth.

Portal Crashes and Lack of Clarity Leave Applicants Stranded

Within hours of the portal’s launch, users reported repeated crashes and slow processing times, leaving thousands unable to submit their applications. Long queues formed at MeeSeva centers, with many applicants expressing frustration over the lack of clear instructions from officials.

“We were excited when the government announced this online process, but now we are stuck. The system isn’t working, and no one is telling us when it will be fixed,” said a resident who had been waiting for over a decade for a ration card.

Officials claim the portal will be fully operational within 10–15 days, but given past delays, citizens remain skeptical.

Government’s Attempt to Fix a Long-Standing Issue

The new system follows a decision by the state Cabinet sub-committee on January 4 to revamp the ration card application process. Under the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime, the online system was disabled, forcing residents to rely on the inefficient Praja Palana Seva Kendras (PPSKs). The Congress-led government reinstated the online process to improve transparency and efficiency, but the rollout has been marred by technical setbacks.

Next Steps: Emergency Meeting to Address Issues

In response to public outcry, the Civil Supplies Department is set to hold an emergency meeting to address the technical glitches and expedite fixes. Officials urge residents to wait for further announcements before crowding MeeSeva centers.

As Hyderabad residents wait for a resolution, their hopes for a seamless application process hang in the balance. The success of this initiative will depend on how quickly the government can resolve these technical issues and restore public confidence.