Bengaluru gets a new app to spot potholes and track road tenders

Mumbai-based engineer Gaurav Sen develops ‘Pothole Reporter’, which can detect potholes live and show their size, civic jurisdiction and tender number Bengaluru's pothole problem could soon get a technology-driven solution, with a new app designed to detect road potholes and make it easier for citizens to report them. The app, called ‘Pothole Reporter’, has been developed by Mumbai-based engineer Gaurav Sen. The application has already received appreciation from the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) for its concept and is expected to be available on the Google Play Store within the next two weeks. What makes the application different is its ability to identify potholes while a vehicle is moving. If a dashboard camera is installed in a car, the app can scan the road in real time during a journey and detect potholes along the route. Also Read: ‘Not 5%, Not 1 Inch’: Over 200 Bengaluru citizens unite against Karnataka’s Parks Amendment The application can identify where a pothole is located and how large it is. It classifies the potholes into three categories - small, medium and large - giving users a clearer idea of the condition of the road. The app also goes beyond simply identifying a pothole. It can provide information about which civic body or municipal jurisdiction the pothole falls under. It can also display the tender number associated with the road work, helping users connect the road condition with the relevant project details. Another feature is the complaint facility. Once a pothole is detected, users can reportedly file a complaint with the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) with a single click. This could make the process of reporting damaged roads quicker and more convenient for motorists and residents. Also Read: Minister Krishna Byre Gowda launches drive to clean neglected Bengaluru vacant sites Sen developed the application in just one day. The idea is to use technology already available in vehicles, particularly dashboard cameras, to continuously identify road defects while people travel through the city. At present, the application is available through GitHub. However, a wider public release is expected soon, with the developer planning to make Pothole Reporter available on the Play Store within the next two weeks. With Bengaluru continuing to face complaints over potholes and damaged roads, the app could give citizens a simpler way to identify problem spots, understand which civic jurisdiction is responsible and directly bring the issue to the authorities.