By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 18: The government has formally launched the ‘Road Suggestion App’ to make the repair and maintenance of damaged federal roads in Kathmandu Valley more effective, prompt and citizen-friendly.
The Road Division Kathmandu under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development launched the mobile application following a successful trial.
Division Chief Engineer Subodh Kumar Devkota said the app was introduced to facilitate quick reporting of problems on federal roads and improve the road maintenance system through greater public participation.
At present, the app covers around 472 kilometres of federal roads in Kathmandu Valley. The division plans to extend the service to Lalitpur and Bhaktapur within the next two weeks and gradually expand it across the country.
Through the app, members of the public can report potholes, damaged or sunken roads, waterlogging, damaged footpaths and road dividers, zebra crossings and other road safety and construction-related problems by uploading photographs and providing location details.
The application uses location mapping to identify the site of a reported problem. Users can also search for an address if necessary. While submitting a complaint, users can provide the type and severity of the problem and a nearby landmark, according to Devkota.
Once a complaint is registered, the user receives a reference number and can track the status and progress of the complaint through the app. The Road Division will assess reported problems based on their severity, need and priority and initiate the necessary response. Users will also be notified through the app after their complaints have been addressed.
The app also provides information about the concerned government agency for roads that do not fall under the federal road network, according to the Road Division.
The division has also intensified road repair efforts and previously deployed a ‘Road Pothole Repair Ambulance’ to carry out immediate repairs to potholes in the Valley, according to reports.
During the launch programme, suggestions were also made to make the system more proactive by mobilising riders and volunteers to regularly identify potholes and other road damage and submit information through the app.
The Road Division said the new digital system is expected to improve the reporting, monitoring and prioritisation of road maintenance works while making the repair process more transparent and responsive to citizens.
The Rising Nepal
