Auto updates, server issues slow down BLO app, hit SIR data upload
Times of India | 28 November 2025
Kolkata: With 83% digitisation over on Thursday, BLOs across Bengal complained that the BLO app was not working properly as the digitisation reached its last mile. From auto-updates that were slowing down the app to server issues that were shutting it down suddenly, BLOs grappled with tech glitches throughout the day.
The problem was reflected in the enumeration forms' digitisation data, which showed that only 4.5% of forms were digitised in the past 24 hours since Wednesday afternoon, against an average of 10%-12% per day in the last few days. Acknowledging the problem, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal, on Thursday took up the matter with the EC to resolve it at the earliest.
Sudipta Modok, a BLO in the Sovabazar area, said, "I have been facing trouble since Wednesday night because the app is not working properly. The major problem I faced was while uploading forms, as it's taking too much time. Most of the time, the server declines when I try to scan photos. Moreover, form uploading takes too much time, resulting in delays in the digitisation process."
Arup Nag, another BLO in the Kasba area, faced similar problems, which started on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in delays in uploading. "I was hopeful about completing the entire process within two to three days, but from Wednesday afternoon, the entire process slowed down and I literally had to stop working because the server was not working as error messages started coming in. I got a message around 1 am that the problem was resolved. But on Thursday morning, when I tried to start working, the same issue cropped up again."
"The problem in the BLO app has been reported across the state. On Thursday morning, the app was not working. Later, it worked for two hours and again stopped working properly. In the evening, the app was working but it was slow. We have informed the EC," an official at the CEO office said. He pointed out that the problem was related to the server.
"New features are being added to the app. The server may run slow due to the continuous updates," the official said. The CEO office suggested the BLOs collect all forms in next 1-2 days and then digitise them at one go. "If needed, we will arrange a central location for BLOs with high-speed wifi connectivity so that they can digitise all forms in a couple of days," the official said, adding that around 50% BLOs have completed digitisation.