DBKL task force repairing potholes in Jalan Sri Permaisuri, Kuala Lumpur. — Filepic
THE pothole complaints channel launched by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on Jan 7 has received 1,224 responses until Feb 17.
However, the actual pothole-related complaints numbered only about 700.
Out of the number, DBKL had resolved at least 77%, said its Civil Engineering and Drainage Department senior deputy director Azli Shah Ali Bashah.
“The pothole complaints channel, which allows the public to inform the authorities about potholes via WhatsApp, also enables us to respond in a timely manner and even update the complainants once the job is done.
“For potholes smaller than a square metre in size, action will be taken within 24 hours of receiving the complaint, ” he said during a virtual talk held by Kuala Lumpur Information Department (JaPen).
Other complaints through the channel, he added, were on cleanliness and drainage problems.
During the talk, Azli Shah said potholes were the most common type of road damage that occurred on Kuala Lumpur roads.
“The weather can also severely affect the formation of potholes and worsen the condition of existing ones.
“Whenever it rains, rainwater accumulates on the road and seeps into cracks and that weakens the soil underneath.
“That leads to even more cracking and eventually a pothole, ” he said.
He added that other types of road damage included cracking, rutting, segregation and delamination.
Azli Shah said overloaded vehicles plying city roads as well as constant road digging works played a big part in the never-ending issue.
In an earlier StarMetro report on Feb 8 headlined “Smoothing over pothole problems”, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah issued a verbal warning to utility contractors who had badly patched up roads after laying underground pipes and cables.
He said at least 40% of potholes in Kuala Lumpur were a direct result of works carried out by utility contractors.
Those who failed to do a proper resurfacing job, he said, would face hefty bills and might end up losing their security deposits.
To ensure that complaints about potholes are channelled to the right people and handled in a speedy manner, city residents are encouraged to send a message to DBKL’s pothole complaints channel via WhatsApp at 011-6239 6652.
