Bengaluru’s infamous pothole problem has become a source of endless frustration for residents and commuters alike. With the monsoon season exacerbating the issue, the city’s roads have turned into obstacle courses. But amidst the chaos, Fyle co-founder Siva Narayanan has injected some humor into the situation with a clever app idea.
Narayanan, known for his sharp wit and tech savvy, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his vision for an app that allows users to rate and review Bengaluru’s notorious potholes. He even envisioned a ‘7-star pothole’ for those particularly impressive (or dangerous) craters.
“Planning to build an app where we can rate and review potholes in Bengaluru,” Narayanan wrote. “I recently saw a 7-star pothole and felt sad that it wasn’t getting the recognition it deserved. Who’s in?” His tweet quickly went viral, drawing a flurry of responses and sparking a lively online discussion about the city’s infrastructure woes.
Netizens embraced Narayanan’s concept with enthusiasm, offering their own creative suggestions. One user proposed a system that ranks roads based on the number and severity of potholes, with the most pothole-ridden streets ranking at the top and the smoothest roads at the bottom. Another user imagined a “Pothole of the Month” feature, complete with a star rating system tied to the pothole’s ability to inflict tyre damage.
The online conversation also highlighted the potential for Narayanan’s idea to be a valuable tool for data collection and analysis. “Interesting system design problem. Do you want to rate the potholes on size? Depth? Width? Impact on the passenger? Maybe add tagging by geolocation. This could be another example of Build for India scale,” commented one user, emphasizing the app’s potential to contribute to the development of a more robust road infrastructure in India.
This playful, yet insightful, app concept is a testament to the ingenuity and frustration felt by Bengaluru residents. It also underscores the pressing need for the city’s authorities to address the persistent issue of road maintenance.
Narayanan’s initiative has sparked a lighthearted conversation around a serious problem, reminding everyone that even amidst the challenges, a little creativity and humor can go a long way. The online community’s response to his idea proves that finding innovative solutions, even for seemingly mundane problems, can generate excitement and bring about positive change.