Roads, garbage collection, water supply and streetlights are the government's job, funded by your taxes. Here's exactly which department is responsible for what, and how to force action when they aren't doing it.
Many states have a Right to Public Service Act guaranteeing civic services within a fixed number of days, with penalties on the responsible officer for delay.
The national CPGRAMS portal accepts grievances against any central or state department — by design, every complaint must get tracked and responded to.
Courts have repeatedly held municipal bodies liable to pay compensation for death or injury caused by unrepaired potholes and open manholes.
You can file an RTI with the concerned department to find out which contractor or officer is accountable for a road, drain, or project, and its deadline.
Click a scenario to see the law, the exact steps, and who to call.
Roads fall under different authorities depending on type — National Highways (NHAI), State Highways (State PWD), and local/municipal roads (Municipal Corporation or Panchayat).
Indian courts, including the Supreme Court and several High Courts, have treated unrepaired potholes and open manholes as administrative negligence, and awarded compensation to victims or their families from the responsible authority.
Works for any city or state, auto-routes to the right department.
Solid waste collection is a municipal (Urban Local Body) responsibility under national rules, monitored through the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 place the legal duty of collection, segregation and disposal on the local municipal body.
Municipal Water Boards/Jal Boards are responsible for supply in cities; the Jal Jeevan Mission covers rural piped water.
Courts have read access to safe drinking water as part of the Right to Life under Article 21 — this isn't just a service issue, it's a rights issue.
These are urgent safety issues, not routine maintenance requests.
Legal duty of municipal bodies to collect, segregate and dispose of waste.
Devolves civic responsibilities — roads, sanitation, water — to Urban Local Bodies.
Right to Life, judicially extended to safe roads and clean drinking water.
Guarantee many civic services within a fixed number of days, with penalties for delay (availability and timelines vary by state).
The precedents behind the plain-language explanations above.
Use your city's own app first for the fastest response; CPGRAMS is the reliable fallback everywhere.
Describe your situation and we'll help you find the right category, law, and authority to approach.
Ask AdhikarThis page explains general Indian law for information purposes and is not legal advice. Laws, portal names, fees and helpline numbers change — please verify current details on the official government website linked above before taking action, and consult a qualified advocate for advice on your specific case.