The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has launched the Geographic Information System (GIS)-based road asset management system (RAMS) to overhaul road maintenance and management in the city.
The initiative addresses critical challenges that have plagued urban road management for years, including the absence of centralised data, inefficient resource allocation, and ad hoc repair decisions, a press release stated.
One of the major issues identified by the PCMC is the lack of a unified database for road assets, leading to fragmented information and inefficient planning. Additionally, the absence of a unique road identification system has made tracking and managing infrastructure challenging. Road maintenance has often been dictated by subjective demands rather than measurable criteria, resulting in unequal distribution of resources.
Fringe areas have frequently been neglected while repeated maintenance is carried out in certain well-maintained zones, leading to wasteful expenditures and poor service levels across the network, officials said.
Technology-driven solution
The RAMS project introduces a technology-driven solution to these problems by creating a centralised GIS platform that provides detailed and real-time data on roads and related infrastructure. This includes road conditions, maintenance history, and asset details such as utility poles, streetlights, and signage. The system leverages advanced tools like GPS-enabled vehicles equipped with high-resolution cameras to collect data and assess road conditions.
Speaking about the initiative, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh said: “The GIS-based RAMS enables us to adopt a scientific approach to road management, ensuring that resources are utilised efficiently and maintenance is carried out equitably across the city. The project focuses on preventive maintenance by identifying potential issues before they escalate into major problems, thereby reducing long-term repair costs. It also includes post-monsoon surveys to assess road conditions and plan budgets effectively. By linking RAMS with PCMC’s work management system (WMS), redundancy in repairs will be eliminated, ensuring a more streamlined and accountable process.”
City engineer Makarand Nikam highlighted the significance of this approach, stating, “RAMS is not just a maintenance tool; it is a strategic investment”.
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