Citizens commuting on the state highways maintained by the public works department (PWD) will soon be able to register pothole complaints using the department’s mobile app that will be in operation from May 10.
The mobile app will enable citizens to post photos with geographical location. Officials have also been directed to attend to these complaints within three working days or face action, said a senior PWD official.
While some local bodies had initiated such a system, it will be the first such for the 1.05 lakh km highway network, added officials. State coordinator and PWD chief engineer, Pune division, Atul Chavan told that the pothole complaint redress system will track geographical location and assign an engineer to look into the work and ensure that the complaint is addressed,” he said. Recently, a review of roads by PWD minister Ravindra Chavan showed that 45% of roads under the department need repairs.
PWD engineers have been told to be on alert. “Potholed roads have to repaired immediately using quick-fix methods,” said Chavan.
“A junior engineer is expected to visit the site and carry out repairs within three days once a citizen uploads the photo. Then the junior engineer will take a photograph of the repaired site and send it to the deputy engineer. The deputy engineer will verify the same and submit compliance to the citizen. So, the total response time will be maximum four days,” said a PWD official.