BENGALURU: BDA commissioner P Manivannan, IAS, has been decorated for his continuing service in the Territorial Army while also carrying on with his day job of revamping the authority’s complaint-handling system for citizens.On Saturday, Manivannan, who joined the 106 Infantry Battalion (TA) Para unit on February 8, 2014, was awarded a commendation card by Chief of Defence Staff General N S Raja Subramani in recognition of his sustained hard work, dedication and coordination with the Army over the years. General Raja Subramani is himself a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.This is Manivannan’s second such honour in less than a year. He was commended by the GOC-in-C, Southern Command, in April 2026 for the same qualities. Officials said the back-to-back honours reflect the commitment he has shown in balancing his administrative role with military service.On the civic front, Manivannan has overseen a revamp of BDA’s grievance redressal system aimed at reducing delays and improving transparency for citizens. Those with long-pending petitions can now send a photocopy directly to BDA’s WhatsApp helpline at 9483166622. Valid petitioners are called for an Open House meeting within 30 days, chaired by the BDA chairman and commissioner, with many sessions live-streamed on YouTube.Since January 1, 2026, BDA has also fully digitised its petition-handling process through the e-office platform, allowing citizens to track their complaints online instead of making repeated visits to submit the same paperwork.Manivannan is married to fellow IAS officer Salma K Fahim, currently secretary of the labour department with concurrent charge of the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, who has her own reputation for efficient administration.
