Even before the onset of monsoon, the hi-tech pothole tracking software of the civic administration — which allows citizens to upload pothole complaints — has displayed at least 440 pothole locations in the city. These potholes have been reported over January, February and March by citizens and a team of civic officials.
After these pothole locations are uploaded on the BMC website, the ward map starts displaying a red dot that is visible to all those visiting the website, including civic officials. This dot’s location is then found out and the pothole repair process is started. Officials said this process has helped them keep a track of the potholes that have to be repaired.
The online geographical information system (GIS)-based software enables citizens and officials to upload photographs of pothole locations on a map through Android phones.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Aseem Gupta said, “We have begun the process of repairing these potholes. The data we receive is updated as soon as the pothole is repaired. Of the 440 potholes reported, some are on the property of other agencies and the repair process will take some time.” So far, over 90 pothole locations have been repaired, said officials.
To expedite the process, officials of the areas and wards that still display a pothole mark at the end of a week will be asked to directly report to the head of the road department.
The BMC had launched the hi-tech pothole tracking software costing Rs 60 lakh to help real-time detection of potholes last November. While initially the software had received a poor response, it is now increasingly being used by citizens and officials, said a civic official from the road department.
The proposal to instal the software had met with opposition initially as only Android mobile handsets can be used to click pictures of potholes and upload it on the site. The civic administration is soon planning to upgrade the software for BlackBerry users.
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