Hello again,
This is in continuation of my earlier discussion on the crowdfunded Spothole App by the Fill in the Potholes Project.
A quick recap: After raising funds though our crowdfunding campaign, many Mumbaikars contributed their time, energy and skills to develop the Spothole App which empowers citizens to report a pothole location. The idea is based on crowdsourcing principles – when we all take care our respective neighbourhood, the entire city is taken care of. Next task was to contact BMC and close the loop so they can take action on the potholes reported by the Mumbaikars in quick turnaround time.
Download Spothole App: Android | iPhone
We tried through various means but in vain. We discovered that BMC already had a similar App which was not much in use and was not even open and transparent about the potholes reported, location on Maps and date of report and how frequently they resurface. We tried a lot to establish a dialog with BMC to present our App demo and put it into practice. On the other hand the common people who had funded the app and contributed to the project had started losing faith on it. We knew that without Govt. support this App won’t work.
One day, we learned that BMC has scrapped their pothole reporting App. We recontacted BMC in hope to partner with us and start using citizen-made Spothole App. But again didn’t get any response.
Meanwhile, I read about Dadarao Bilhore who had lost his 16-year-old son last year in a road accident caused by a pothole. This heartbroken father has filled up more than 350 potholes on his own since the unfortunate incident, as a tribute to his beloved son.
Through a journalist friend I got his phone number and contacted him. I met with him, heard his story, and narrated the journey of our project. I gave him an android phone with an active 3G internet pack for the monsoon period so using the Spothole App he can scout for potholes reported by fellow citizens and navigate to reach the pothole location to fill them. In short, enacting how BMC should have been using our App.
During our last meeting, I shared an idea of him launching an online petition on behalf of us appealing to the BMC to accept the Spothole App designed by the citizens to solving this civic problem and thus establishing citizen-Govt. tie-up. He liked the idea and thus together we launched the change.org campaign on the first death anniversary of his son with the following appeals:-
- To BMC: Accept the Spothole App made by the citizens of Mumbai and work together for public-private partnership and set an example by jointly solve this civic problem.
- To Mumbaikars: Download the Spothole App and report potholes so Dadarao can fill them with his limited capability.
If you find the cause worthwhile, please click here to sign our petition to show support and make our case stronger and open doors with BMC for discussion on the fate of the Spothole App.
Thank you for your time.
Fill in the Potholes Project @fillpotholes
asha chaudhry
done rupesh. more power to what you do.