At just 15 years old, Parth from New Delhi has developed an app that empowers residents to report potholes, assess their severity, and send automated notifications to local officials, combining technology with civic responsibility.
- App uses AI to validate pothole photos and severity grades
- Automates reporting directly to city authorities via email
- Over 360 potholes reported; local repairs underway
What happened
A 15-year-old boy named Parth in New Delhi created Project Sadak, an app designed to help citizens report potholes more efficiently to government authorities. The app lets users take photos of potholes, tag their location using GPS, and grade how severe the road damage is. Using artificial intelligence, the app ensures each reported pothole is genuine and the severity assessment is accurate through a combination of automated checks and human review.
This innovative platform also drafts and sends emails directly to the relevant officials, so users don’t have to search for contact details or personally follow up with authorities. Inspired by a personal experience when Parth’s parents were involved in a motorcycle accident caused by a pothole, the app now serves as a practical solution for people to report dangerous road conditions without unnecessary hurdles.
Why it feels good
Project Sadak highlights the power of youthful innovation driven by compassion and personal experience. Parth’s work not only addresses a common urban problem but also demonstrates how emerging technologies like AI can be leveraged for public safety and community empowerment. It eliminates frustrating bureaucracy by simplifying the reporting and follow-up process, allowing citizens to take immediate action to improve their neighborhood.
Moreover, the initiative embodies proactive civic engagement in the world’s most populous country, where infrastructure challenges are immense. Inspiringly, Parth hasn’t waited for government action—he personally arranged for repairs using his family’s construction connections, showing a commitment that goes beyond just technology development.
What to enjoy or watch next
Looking ahead, Parth intends to enhance Project Sadak by fully automating the process from photo submission to sending reports, and by developing a WhatsApp chatbot for easier access without the need to download an app. This will make reporting potholes even more accessible to a broader audience, further encouraging civic participation.
As the app gains traction, it will be interesting to see whether local governments become more responsive and if similar models are adopted in other cities facing infrastructure difficulties. Meanwhile, tracking how many potholes get repaired following reports could add another layer of accountability, making cities safer and more efficient places to live.