Bengaluru Launches ‘Road Pothole Attention’ App to Tackle Road Maintenance

In a bid to streamline road maintenance and ensure timely repairs, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar, alongside the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), launched the ‘Road Pothole Attention’ mobile application on Saturday.

The new app leverages advanced technology to precisely identify and address potholes across Bengaluru’s extensive road network, aiming to enhance transparency and efficiency in road repairs. Last week, Shivakumar had reported that "96 per cent of the road potholes in Bengaluru have been fixed." This statement came in response to a question by Jayanagar MLA CK Ramamurthy during the ongoing assembly session. Shivakumar detailed that between April 1 and June 30, a total of 16,202 potholes were identified within BBMP limits, of which 15,686 (96 per cent) have been repaired, leaving 516 yet to be addressed.

Bengaluru's road network spans approximately 12,878 km, with 1,344.84 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads and 11,533.16 km of zonal roads. Frequent damage to these roads is attributed to the installation of various utilities, including BESCOM cables, water supply and drainage pipes, GAIL gas lines, KPTCL high-capacity cables, and OFC cables, which often lead to pothole formation.

The ‘Road Pothole Attention’ app uses GPS technology to map all roads under BBMP jurisdiction, accurately pinpointing potholes by their latitude and longitude, recording their dimensions, and generating specific repair orders. This system is designed to enhance transparency and enable effective monitoring of repair costs.

For the fiscal year 2024-25, the corporation has allocated Rs 15 lakh per ward, totaling Rs 33.75 crore for 225 wards.

The app is accessible not only to BBMP officials and the Bangalore Traffic Police Department but also to the general public. This inclusive approach allows anyone to report potholes, thus improving the efficiency of the repair process.

Users can download the ‘Raste Gundi Gamana’ or ‘Road Pothole Attention’ app from the Google Play Store. Available in Kannada and English, the app allows users to select their preferred language, enter their mobile number, and receive a One-Time Password (OTP) via SMS for registration. The app automatically displays the user's current location, enabling them to describe the issue, submit a complaint, and receive a docket number. The information is forwarded to the relevant authorities, who are required to address the complaint within a specified time frame. Users can also track the status of their complaints through the app.