Maharashtra PWD launches pothole reporting app; promises redressal within 3 days; check where to download

Acting on mounting complaints of pothole ridden roads across the state, Maharashtra state Public Works Department (PWD) has launched a pothole reporting app to let citizens upload complaints of potholes on state highways stretching across 1,18000 kilometers.

This application, launched last week, comes with a deadline of addressing the complaint within 72 hours. “We have received 138 complaints in the first week and have addressed 49 of them,” reported TOI, quoting a senior PWD (public works department) official.

The PCRS app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or by visiting official app store of the Government of India. The PWD, in collaboration with the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Center (MRSAC), has mapped and integrated more than 118,000 kilometers of roads under its jurisdiction into the app.

Once, downloaded, citizens must upload at least two photos of the potholes with GPS enabled so that the authorities can pinpoint the location of the potholes. The complaint will then be forwarded to the junior engineer, deputy executive engineer, and executive engineer of the relevant department through the app on their mobile devices.

The junior engineer must complete the work within 72 hours and the deputy engineers have to submit a final report within 96 hours. If these timelines are not followed, the complaint will get escalated to the executive engineer level with the possibility of show cause notice being issued for the default.

The complainant will receive a notification through SMS. The concerned pothole will be then filled and a notification will be sent to the complainant along with the photograph of the completed work.

If the complaint is not resolved within 30 days, a review will be conducted and suitable action will be taken against the responsible officers.

The Amravati region has taken the lead with 62 complaints, closely followed by Pune with 58. Other regions like Konkan, Nashik, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have reported less than five complaints each.

The PWD has committed to rigorous monitoring starting in November to develop permanent solutions for the state’s road infrastructure.