Is the Assam Government’s Upcoming App for Better Roads Worth the Hype?

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In a move forward for the improvement of roads and infrastructure all across the state, the Assam government will launch a mobile phone application to use in web activity that would allow citizens to report and track any problem associated with a road or road-related issue in the state.
Studies have shown that people can now get a first-hand experience with the administration when it comes to road maintenance and development upon downloading the app.

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Background and Objectives

On Sunday, directed by Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Public Works Department (PWD) allows citizens to report potholes in their local areas by photos. The app is expected to function by the end of this year starting with the proper covering of five major cities, including Guwahati.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announces plans for a pothole-reporting app to enhance road maintenance in five major cities, including Guwahati.

Read More: https://t.co/27dmlKA0ZD#Assam #RoadSafety pic.twitter.com/1EcAkEQ36l

— Northeast News (@newsne24x7) January 13, 2025

Sarma posted a video on his Facebook page on Saturday announcing the initiative with Bihu celebrations round the corner. “Won’t it be a good initiative if citizens send photographs of potholes to the public works department through an app and it gets the notification on immediate basis and acts according to that?, Sarma could be heard asking in the video. Initially, the service will be made in five cities — Guwahati, Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Silchar — in the state, the CM delivered. He requested the citizens to post photos of the potholes in conjunction with the coordinates and assured that the PWD could fix those inside a brief time period.

“I have asked the officials to first create the app, in the next two months, for the five cities,” said Sarma.

Sarma said people should take note of the changes and that people should abstain themselves from indulging in drunken or rash driving while the number of road accidents during the first ten days of the new year, contrasts positively with the same period in the previous year.

“92 people have lost their lives in road accidents in the period of 1st to 10th 2024 in Assam this year. There have been no deaths due to road accidents during the first 10 days of last year because this year, gov has made constant efforts in order to bring it down to 74. As regards the road conditions seen during the festival, may I, therefore, humbly request you to refrain from drunken driving during the Bihu festivities?” Stated by CM Sarma.

“I think it is a genuine step at the governmental level to involve the citizenry in ensuring good road quality in our state,” said Udayaditya Kalita from the village praising the decision of their head.

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Impact and Benefits

1. Improved Road Conditions: Eliminating potholes is expected to contribute to better contextual road situations in the state. Apart from security during travel, this reduction would go on to benefit the cost of maintenance incurred by both government and communities.
2. Economic Development: Better roads will make better economic development by enabling goods and people to move more easily, and this brings more economic activities and investments to any place. Therefore, it is particularly useful for Assam, a major hub in trade and tourism in the northeastern region.
3. Empowering Citizens: Leave it to the application for any possibility of enhanced citizen ownership by allowing them be an infantry in the dirt roads maintained and developed in the place where they reside. This sense of involvement motivates community engagement and satisfaction.
4. Data-Driven Decision Making: The app will allow for the collection and analysis of data about each of the state’s roads, including highlights of areas where critical attention is needed, thus leading to data-driven decisions that can better influence resource allocation.

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Conclusion

Introduction of App is a big leap towards modernizing the process of registering and maintaining the infrastructure of the state. The Assam government is envisioning an effective, transparent and accountable system of road maintenance using technology and active citizen participation. Besides assuring a road quality up gradation in Assamese roads this kind of initiative is also an example for other transporting country’s to change their plans on infrastructure development with the digital solutions.

With the implementation of this app, both the line department and the citizens are optimistic about the positive impact it will have on the improvement of roads in the state, thereby enhancing the quality of life and overall development.

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