Bengaluru deploys Jet Patcher to fix small potholes without closing roads

Bengaluru has launched a Rs 2 crore pilot of the Jet Patcher technology to enable faster repairs of smaller potholes without closing roads.

The machine was unveiled at Vidhana Soudha on Friday and is being used in the Central City Corporation limits. Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the technology will be replicated across all five corporations.

The minister said the technology is suited to smaller potholes and can be used without disrupting traffic or causing additional congestion.

Potholes in Bengaluru vary in depth. In some locations, only the top layer of asphalt has worn away, while in others both the asphalt and underlying aggregate have deteriorated, resulting in deeper potholes.

“We are exploring scientific solutions suited to different types of potholes, and the Jet Patcher is one such solution. Going forward, different technologies can be deployed depending on the nature and severity of the pothole,” he said.

The technology is designed to be particularly suitable for potholes around 2–3 inches deep.

The machine works only on the damaged portion of the road. It cleans dust and debris, applies bitumen and wet mix, and carries out the work through a single machine.

Repairs can be carried out while traffic continues to move. According to the minister, traffic can resume within about 10 minutes after repairs are completed.

Traditional pothole repairs have relied on hot-mix technology, which requires a roller for compaction. The minister said hot-mix repairs have limitations during the monsoon and may not be practical for repairing a single pothole because of the equipment involved.

The Central City Corporation has invited a tender for Rs 2 crore for the pilot project.

According to the specifications provided for the machine, it uses cold-mix technology and Semi Dense Bituminous Concrete to repair potholes up to 50 mm in depth.

Before repair, the pothole is marked in a regular shape and size, loose material is removed and any accumulated water is drained.

RS1 bitumen emulsion tack coat is then applied before the repair mix is placed and compacted using a plate compactor.

The pilot is intended for smaller potholes, while different technologies can be used depending on the nature and severity of deeper road damage.