Bengaluru’s broken footpaths, obstructed walkways and neglected pedestrian infrastructure may soon have a new watchdog. RASTHE, a civic-tech app launched this week, aims to turn everyday citizens into active reporters of urban infrastructure issues, allowing them to flag damaged footpaths, traffic bottlenecks and construction-related disruptions directly to the BBMP.

The platform takes an unconventional approach to civic participation. Borrowing a page from dating apps, users can swipe between footpaths to rate which is better or worse, while also nominating the best and worst pedestrian stretches in their neighbourhoods. They can upload images of unusable footpaths, garbage-ridden walkways or other hazards, which are then displayed on a crowd-sourced map and ward-level grid visible to local authorities and residents.

The goal, according to its creator, is simple: “Turn every citizen into a sensor for the city.”

What makes RASTHE particularly noteworthy is not just the idea, but who built it. The app was created by Surya, a 14-year-old student at National Public School, Bengaluru, who has already built an unusually diverse entrepreneurial portfolio.

Surya is the founder of a stealth startup backed by Emergent Ventures, founding head of growth at Edza AI, and founder of both The Marg Initiative and Roadyz. He also runs an AI-powered tutoring service for students. Across these ventures runs a common thread: a willingness to identify problems and build solutions without waiting for permission.

The mobile app version is up for review on the App Store, the web version is functional now, Surya’s post on X said.

(The writer is an intern with businessline)

Published on May 22, 2026