Bengaluru Teen Crafts Footpath‑Reporting App and Gives Government Three Straightforward Tips

When most kids his age are busy with video games, 14‑year‑old Arjun Rao from Bengaluru was busy coding. Inspired by the endless potholes he’d see on his way to school, the teenager built a simple yet powerful mobile app that lets anyone snap a photo of a damaged footpath and instantly send it to the municipal ward office.

Arjun’s little project, dubbed “FootPath Alert,” runs on both Android and iOS. Users just open the app, click a button, capture an image, add a brief note, and hit submit. Within seconds the report lands in a dashboard that the city’s Public Works department can monitor. The idea is plain‑vanilla citizen journalism, but with a tech twist that cuts out the paperwork and the long‑waiting‑for‑a‑reply game.

“I was tired of walking over the same broken sidewalks every day,” Arjun told reporters. “My friends would complain, but nobody knew exactly where the worst spots were. I thought, why not let anyone point them out with a phone?” The app now boasts over 2,000 downloads in just a few weeks, and more than 150 pothole locations have already been flagged.

Beyond the app, Arjun has a modest wish list for the government. He’s laid out three suggestions that, in his view, could turn the city’s pothole‑fixing engine from a clunky old truck into a smoother ride.

1. Speed up the repair cycle. Arjun observed that many reports sit idle for days, sometimes weeks, before any action is taken. He recommends a clear SLA (service‑level agreement) – say, “fix within 48 hours of a verified report” – and a public tracker so citizens can see the status of each complaint.

2. Integrate data across departments. Right now, the footpath‑reporting tool talks to the Public Works office only. Arjun suggests linking it with the city’s GIS (geographic information system) and traffic‑management platforms. That way, a pothole on a busy pedestrian corridor can be flagged as a higher‑priority item than one on a quiet lane.

3. Reward citizens for participation. A small token – maybe a discount on municipal services or a monthly “citizen‑hero” badge – could keep people engaged. Arjun believes recognition, even if modest, can turn a one‑off report into a habit of community‑watching.

Local officials have praised the teenage innovation, noting that such grassroots tools are exactly the kind of “smart‑city” solutions they have been looking for. The Bengaluru Municipal Corporation’s Chief Engineer, Sunil Mehta, said, “Arjun’s app shows us how technology can bridge the gap between citizens and administration. We’re already testing the integration he suggested.”

Meanwhile, Arjun remains humble. “I’m just a student who loves coding,” he said with a shy grin. “If my little app can make a sidewalk safer for someone, that’s enough for me.” He hopes other youngsters will take a cue, roll up their sleeves and start building tools that address everyday problems in their neighborhoods.