Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) ambitious plan to launch a mobile application for tracking potholes and roadworks seems to have hit a snag, despite a budget allocation of Rs. 40 lakh for the financial year 2024-25.
The app was intended to provide citizens with an easy way to report potholes, track ongoing road repairs, and view information about road development projects—all at the click of a button.
However, six months after the announcement, the PMC's Information and Technology Department has yet to develop the application, drawing criticism for administrative neglect.
The mobile app was proposed under the leadership of the former Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar, who recognized the need for a streamlined, efficient way for citizens to report potholes and for the administration to monitor road conditions.
The app was expected to integrate GPS tracking to offer real-time updates on road repairs, excavation permits, and the current status of works across the city.
Ironically, while PMC's app remains in limbo, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) took a proactive approach by consulting PMC on the concept and subsequently launching its own pothole app, which is now operational and serving citizens.
This has led to widespread discussions among Pune residents, questioning whether the city's own app development plans have metaphorically 'fallen into a pothole.'
The proposed app would have brought several advantages, including the digitization of the excavation permit process, which is currently managed manually and is cumbersome and slow.
By modernizing this system, the app aimed to accelerate the approval process, ensure better management of roadworks, and allow citizens to file complaints about potholes directly via the app.
Moreover, the use of GPS technology would have provided insights into how often and how long potholes appear in specific locations, potentially revealing substandard work by contractors and holding them accountable.
