Mumbai: Bandra finds a concrete solution for potholes

While BMC's central roads department experiments with three techniques for longevity of fixed potholes, its ward office in Bandra West has applied a new method, using concrete, to fix the busy Hill Road. "After almost 10 days since fixing the road, we can say the results are good," said Vinayak Vispute, assistant commissioner, H west ward.

The H West ward officials got the potholes on Hill Road fixed with concrete, after the cold mix did not work. About 10 days after the work began, traffic has been smooth in the busy shopping street. The concrete takes two to three days to dry out, but unlike cold mix, it holds up well on the asphalt road. The heavy spell of rain in the first half month of July had left the asphalt roads uneven, causing traffic jams and inconvenience to commuters, who started complaining.

A patch opposite Lilavati Hospital Junction that was fixed recently, in Bandra on Wednesday. Pic/Sameer Markande

"We used cold mix to fill up the potholes at least four times, but it would disappear within a day and the potholes became wider with every passing day. So we tried grade M40 concrete with early strength technique," said an official from the H West ward.

‘Results are good'

"We covered the fixed surface with plastic sheets to avoid excess rain during the curing period of about four days. After almost 10 days since fixing the road, we can say the results are good. It works on asphalt roads and we experimented on five-six patches on various roads in Bandra. It can be used on prominent roads with higher vehicular traffic," said Vinayak Vispute, assistant commissioner of H West.

The road opposite St Aloysius High School in Bandra, on Wednesday. BMC ward officials filled the potholes using concrete. Pic/Sameer Markande

Last week, the BMC used M60 grade concrete as an experiment on Anik Wadala Link Road, It takes six hours to dry out and the patch has to be covered with metal sheets for traffic movement. It costs Rs 6,000 to fill up 1 sqm of patch using M60 concrete. "M40 concrete is costlier than cold mix, but cheaper than M60 grade. But it is cost effective in a way that the potholes don't need to be filled again and again. The cure time is an issue, but once applied, it will last long," said an official.

Asif Zakaria, former corporator of Bandra, said, "I had raised objections about the quality of cold mix. It is a failed technology. Now the bad patches in Bandra are effectively fixed using cement concrete. It is holding well compared to the cold mix, and the traffic is moving smoothly." "It is not one of the three experimental techniques we tried on Anik Wadala road," confirmed Ulhas Mahale, deputy BMC commissioner.