In a significant move to ensure accountability, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed strict departmental action against approximately two dozen government officers and employees. This action follows their indictment during a high-level review of the state's citizen grievance platform, the 'Mhari Sadak' application, which is dedicated to reporting potholes.
CM Chairs Review, Demands Swift Resolution
The review meeting, chaired by CM Saini on Wednesday, took a serious view of the incorrect disposal of public complaints registered on the app. The Chief Minister ordered time-bound and swift inquiries against district and sub-division level officers responsible for complaints that were overdue or improperly addressed. He emphasized the need for prompt public service and directed officials to resolve all pending issues quickly.
So far, the app has received a total of 24,482 complaints from citizens. Out of these, authorities have taken action to resolve 10,501 complaints, while work is currently in progress on 12,930 complaints. The remaining complaints are also being actively addressed by the concerned departments.
App's Impact and Expansion
The 'Mhari Sadak' app has proven to be a crucial tool for infrastructure feedback in Haryana. Upon resolution of complaints, 1,770 citizens have expressed their satisfaction through the platform. The collective effort has led to an impressive 1.18 lakh kilometres of roads across the state being made pothole-free.
To maximize its utility, CM Saini instructed that messages be sent to all registered driving licence holders and vehicle owners in Haryana, encouraging them to download the 'Mhari Sadak' app. The goal is to enable maximum citizen participation in the mission to identify and fix bad roads.
The application's scope is wide, covering roads under the jurisdiction of multiple departments and agencies. These include:
- Urban Local Bodies
- Public Works Department (PWD)
- Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA)
- Haryana State Marketing Board
- Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC)
- Zila Parishad
- GMDA and PMDA
Systemic Reforms and Future Monitoring
Recognizing the app's role as a vital citizen-government interface, the Chief Minister announced that monthly review meetings will now be held at the district level. These meetings will be chaired by the respective Deputy Commissioners to ensure local accountability and faster grievance redressal.
While praising the system's performance in data collection and fostering public participation, Saini noted that efforts are ongoing to further improve departmental response times, real-time tracking of repairs, and communication with citizens. He has directed the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department to submit a detailed report at the earliest. This report must specify how many roads have been repaired so far, how many are currently under repair, and the deadlines for completing all remaining works.
This crackdown underscores the Haryana government's commitment to leveraging technology for transparent governance and holding officials accountable for public service delivery, especially in critical infrastructure areas like road maintenance.
