Missing manhole covers, dug-up roads without safety precautions, the occasional jutting rock or pole to trip you over, or open electrical junction boxes are just a few of the sights that are so much a part of city roads that few people notice or complain about them until they become the cause of accidents.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has started proactively analyzing and providing solutions to such vexing issues that threaten public safety, instead of waiting for them to surface as public complaints.
The civic association recently launched a mobile phone application called ‘Periodic Application for Public Safety Inspection’, which allows to register visible problems in public spaces, solve them and monitor them.
The app handle is given to assistant engineers in each department, who in turn can also enlist labor inspectors to go around their respective areas, identify problems that threaten public safety, and record them in the app for resolution. The mobile app allows them to record, update and take geo-tagged photos of problems seen in the field.
A centralized dashboard at headquarters helps senior officials with information on day-to-day progress and follow-up actions.
By ensuring real-time tracking, faster inspections and transparent reporting, the app increases the efficiency and accountability of the inspection process, GHMC Additional Commissioner Anurag Jayanti said. The inspection process is repeated once the cycle is completed, so it is periodic in nature.
“The public should not have to approach the head office for every small problem. This app has been developed with the intention of providing safe roads without waiting for the public to complain about anything. We may not be able to solve all the problems but it will certainly pave the way for better governance,” said Mr. Jayanti.
Published – 30 Oct 2025 20:21 IST
