This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Bhagirath

Imagine spotting a pothole or garbage pile on your street and reporting it within seconds — no complicated forms, no waiting endlessly for updates. Civic participation in India has long faced challenges like inefficient reporting, lack of transparency, and low accessibility.

At Smart India Hackathon 2025, my team Fedora tackled this problem head-on with an innovative idea: an AI-powered crowdsourced civic issue reporting and resolution system. This solution makes reporting problems as simple as clicking a photo and empowers citizens and governments alike with real-time insights.

The Problem with Current Systems

Inefficient Reporting — Most systems are slow, manual, and lack automation.
Lack of Transparency — Citizens rarely know if their complaint is received or resolved.
Low Accessibility — Existing portals are complex, especially for semi-literate or first-time digital users.

These issues widen the gap between citizens and government bodies, ultimately slowing down civic improvements.

My Solution: CityFix

I built a mobile-first, AI-powered platform designed to make civic reporting simple, transparent, and accessible to all.

Key Features:

One-click photo reporting with auto-location tagging
AI auto-classification of issues (potholes, garbage, etc.) with urgency detection
Real-time tracking of complaints with status updates
WhatsApp chatbot support for instant updates without app installation
Multi-language accessibility (English, Hindi, and local dialects)
Centralized dashboard for officials with analytics and heat maps

Technical Approach

Citizen (Web-App)
Frontend: React Native (for web)
UI/UX: TailwindCSS + Material UI (for fast, accessible, multilingual design)
Multilingual Support: i18next library
Reporting Features
Camera + Location: React Native Camera/GPS (mobile)
Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging (push notifications across devices)
Backend Infrastructure
Serverless Processing: Google Cloud Functions (auto-scale, low latency)
Data Management: Google Firestore (real-time sync, scalable), Firebase Storage (images, video)
Authentication: Firebase Auth (secure login via email/phone/social)
Admin Dashboard
Frontend: React.js + Chart.js / Recharts (data visualization)
Maps: Leaflet.js (interactive city maps with issue heatmaps)
Task Routing Engine: Custom ML model (Python/FastAPI) + rule-based priority system
Advanced Features
AI/ML Layer: TensorFlow Lite for image classification (pothole, garbage, etc.)
Analytics & Insights: Google Data Studio / Looker for admin reports / Heatmaps for hotspots and trend analysis
Scalability & Integration
APIs: REST + GraphQL APIs for future extensions
Offline Mode: Local storage with background sync (PWA capabilities)
This modular, scalable stack ensures smooth performance and accessibility.

Impact & Benefits

→ For Citizens:

Faster, easier reporting
Real-time status tracking
Builds trust in government systems

→ For Government:

Efficient allocation of resources and workforce
Data-driven decisions with hotspot analytics
Increased accountability and transparency

→ For Communities:

Cleaner, safer, and more eco-friendly cities
Better collaboration between people and government
A step towards Smarter, Sustainable India

Why It Matters

This solution aligns perfectly with the Clean & Green Technology theme of SIH 2025. By merging AI, crowdsourcing, and civic governance, it bridges the gap between citizens and authorities — making cities not just smarter, but more inclusive and transparent.

References & Inspiration

My research drew inspiration from existing civic platforms like:

fixmystreet

pgportal

mygov

Conclusion

Civic engagement shouldn’t be a struggle — it should be empowering. With Fedora’s Cityfix, we aim to simplify reporting, strengthen transparency, and accelerate issue resolution. Together, citizens and governments can co-create a cleaner, greener, and smarter India.