BMC adopts geopolymer technique for road repairs: A step towards a pothole-free Mumbai?

With the goal of making Mumbai pothole-free, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started using the "geopolymer" technique for routine road maintenance and repairs.

Recently, geopolymer technology was used to completely repair the road near Gundavali Metro station in Mumbai. By filling the potholes with geopolymer concrete, which blends seamlessly with the existing cement concrete surface, a strong and cohesive road structure is created, according to an official.

IN PHOTOS: Geopolymer technology for pothole-free roads in Mumbai

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He added that the traffic disruption is minimised by the speedy road repairs made possible by the geopolymer concrete and the technique could yield positive results in the coming years.

A recently released statement by the BMC said that using the geopolymer technology was a big step towards making Mumbai's roads free of potholes.

The eco-friendly building materials also guarantee the resilience and longevity of road surfaces.

To fill a pothole, the geopolymer approach combines polymer, stone, and sand. The road can reopen to traffic at the earliest, the officials suggest.

Potholes are mostly caused on asphalt roads due to heavy rains. Traditionally, potholes on asphalt roads have been filled using cold mix technology, which has faced criticism for years. The BMC has previously tested various pothole-filling alternatives, including precast concrete, paver blocks, geopolymer mix, and rapid-hardening cement.

Experts suggest that due to its affordability, environmental friendliness, and practicality, geopolymers have garnered interest as potential substitutes for organic polymers in road construction and pothole repairs. When used for road repairs, geopolymers demonstrate significant strength development, particularly when incorporating recycled asphalt pavement. Adding recycled asphaltic concrete aggregate enhances the performance of geopolymer concrete by increasing its resistance and maintaining satisfactory compressive strength, which leads to greater durability and longevity.

Sources said that concrete roadways will be strengthened through a trial program utilizing geopolymer technology. Additionally, a combined dashboard will be used to monitor potholes and ensure they are filled promptly. Over 397 km of the city's roads have been concreted by the BMC, with over 25 per cent of the work reportedly completed.

They added that the civic body has sped up the work of both concretisation and identifying and repairing the potholes in the city.

The experts suggested that city roads may not solely be repaired by the geopolymer technique but that there are other techniques also available to overcome the potholes problem in the city. However, once the entire concretisation is completed the geopolymer technique could be helpful for the road repair works.

An official explained that with geopolymer technology, the pit is immediately filled after the material is prepared at the spot. The technology is used mainly for cement roads. In two hours, when the material dries out, transportation can begin. This helps roadways that see heavy traffic. A one-square-metre pothole could cost a few thousand rupees to be repaired or filled.

Last month, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde stated that the concretisation of roads in the entire city was being done and in the next two years, Mumbai will be pothole-free.

He said that the civic administration is working with the government and police to ease the traffic congestion.

CM Shinde had also urged the residents of the city to cooperate with the administration in keeping the metropolis clean and beautiful.