Is Pune living up to its claim of being the "IT hub of Maharashtra"? At least some initiatives point in that direction.
Better Roads in Monsoon
Pune is notorious for its bad roads, and the monsoon season is pure nightmare. Both the PMC and the IT geeks-based "Better Roads Group" have teamed up to make this monsoon a different story:
For this, the PMC ensured that roads were repaired before the rain and even set up a monsoon helpline for citizens to register their complaints about potholes, waterlogging and choked drains. The PMC also gave the cellphone numbers of all 14 ward officers so that complaints could be sent through SMS.
To give this idea a big push, the civic body has roped in a group of young technocrats working for Better Roads Group, to monitor the operations of the helpline. The group will initiate immediate action on the complaints received through SMS.
Appaled by the condition of roads last year, the group decided to do something concrete, said Amit Kadam, who works for Persistent Technologies. The group had also filed a public interest litigation last year in the Bombay High Court on the bad condition of the city’s roads.
To register a pothole / manhole / water logging problem: Call Monsoon Helpline at 2444 5555.
Civic Complaints via SMS
Citizens will now be able to register their civic-related complaints just by sending SMSes to their local ward officer, ward medical officer, medical inspector, deputy city engineers or junior engineers.
Complaints pertaining to problems like irregular water supply, breach in pipelines, potholes, broken footpaths, uneven lids on manholes, garbage clearance, illegal hawkers, cleanliness of public areas and street lights can be made by citizens.
You can view the mobile phone numbers of the ward officers at PMC's E-Governance Website.
Complaints Website
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has also tied up with the Citizen Empowerment Forum to register their complaint through the Internet.
The system would enable the citizens to file their complaint online and the complainant can check the status of the complaint on the net.
Visit Citizen Empowerment Forum's site to lodge complaints.
Well, so many initiatives - it remains to be seen how effective they really turn out to be. But at least, it's a start!
Related posts:
A transformer pole is erected some time back opposite Ambedkar chouk, Gaikwad Nagar, Aundh Pune — between Telephone Exchange to Medipoint Hospital road. The transformer is in the centre of this road and therefore is a major obstruction to this road traffic.
The undersigned is not aware of the technicalities in removing / shifting of this pole. But it felt that the shifting of this pole will help in improving heavy traffic movement.
This suggestion / point has also been given to Shri. Shivajirao Bangar, local corporator who has kindly agreed to taking immediate action and then resurface this road. In case of any difficulties from the Pune Municipal Corporation, you may approach the Shri Bangar, corporator, Aundh area.
Underground wiring was done few months back on the road between Oxford Elegance soc. and Empire landmark soc., in Kedari nagar, near salunke vihar road. The road was dug for this work and now, the sharp stones are still there on the road, there are illegally parked vehicles in the same lane, due to which it has become a great trouble for the daily commuters in this area.
The risk is major when big cars try to doge the sharp stones on the road as well as parked vehicles in the lane. School going kids also get injured when they fell down while walking on this mud and stones. Walking is not safe and most of the time, tyres of vehicle have got punchured.
It would be so kind of you if someone can look into this matter.
Thanks and Regards!
Mr. A. Shaikh