As heavy monsoon rains approach Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched a tech-driven solution to tackle the city’s perennial pothole problem. On June 9, civic BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani launched the ‘Pothole QuickFix’ app and WhatsApp chatbot, which promise to simplify reporting and speed up repairs across the city.
BMC’s fresh attempt to tackle potholes
Available on both Android and iOS, Pothole QuickFix lets users snap a photo, auto-tag the location, add a brief note, and file a complaint, all in under five taps.
Once submitted, the issue is instantly routed to the concerned civic engineer for quick action. Users can track progress, view repair timelines, and re-open complaints within 24 hours if unsatisfied. A live dashboard shows each case as ‘Open’, ‘In Progress’, or ‘Resolved’.
For those not using the app, BMC has also launched a WhatsApp chatbot (8999228999), where keywords like “Pothole” or “खड्डा” trigger the same complaint process.
‘Smart Mumbai’ Campaign
BMC has committed to resolving pothole complaints within 48 hours, missed deadlines will trigger automatic escalations to senior officials. This is about empowering citizens and building a more accountable system, stated Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar. The move is part of the broader ‘Smart Mumbai’ campaign focused on tech-led civic solutions.
Previous digital attempts like My BMC Pothole Fixit and MCGM 24×7 faltered, but this time, BMC is betting on real-time geo-tagging, ward-level engineering oversight, and a live public dashboard to deliver results.
