The Government of Andhra Pradesh has launched ‘Mana Mitra,’ a WhatsApp chatbot that provides digital public services to nearly 50 million residents. Developed in partnership with Meta, the chatbot will initially offer over 160 citizen services across six key areas: electricity bill payments, temple seva bookings, bus ticket bookings, revenue services, municipal services, and grievance redressal.
Residents can access the chatbot by sending ‘Hi’ to 9552300009 on WhatsApp. The chatbot is available in both Telugu and English, making public services easier to access. Users can check bus availability, make payments, and complete transactions directly within WhatsApp, eliminating the need to visit websites or download other apps. Payments can be made through UPI, credit, or debit cards.
“This first-of-its-kind chatbot symbolises our vision for a digitally inclusive Andhra Pradesh, where citizens can book and purchase bus tickets, plan temple visits, and resolve grievances, all within their WhatsApp. This partnership is not only digitising access to key public services in Andhra Pradesh but also making access as easy as chatting with a friend or family member on WhatsApp,” Lokesh Nara, Minister of Human Resource Development, Information Technology and Electronics, Government of Andhra Pradesh said.
The initiative integrates WhatsApp Flows, which allow users to navigate services using rich menus and customisable forms. The government aims to simplify public service delivery and make it more accessible to everyone.
“The ease and simplicity of WhatsApp make it a preferred choice for people to get things done—from talking to friends and family, to booking bus tickets, accessing public services, and paying utility bills. We are excited to collaborate with the Government of Andhra Pradesh in launching ‘Mana Mitra’, which brings over 160 citizen-centric services directly to people’s fingertips in their preferred language and on a platform they use throughout the day,” Sandhya Devanathan, Vice President, Meta in India said.