The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) aims to source jet-patch machines to repair potholes in a matter of hours, a process that typically takes about a week, officials said Wednesday.
Unlike a traditional hot-mix machine, a jet patcher machine can repair potholes at any time of the year. MCG officials said jet patcher machines can be used during the rainy or peak winter season, and their pollutant-free component allows them to be used during periods of high pollution in the capital city region (NCR).
“The period between February and May and September are currently the only months in which we can carry out any kind of road construction work. In June, July and August we are unable to carry out road repairs due to the rain and in October, November and December due to the high level of air pollution. In January the temperature is too low to start work on bitumen, “said a senior MCG official in the engineering wing, asking for anonymity.
The official quoted above stated that with the new machines it will be possible to ensure that potholes are filled immediately, which is of extreme concern during the monsoon season. He said the jet patcher machine costs about ₹2 crore and takes about five minutes to repair a pothole.
The MCG has launched a tender to build an agency that will keep roads under the jurisdiction of the Citizens Authority by using jet patcher machines to fill potholes. Offers for this tender will be opened next Monday.
MCG’s chief engineer, TL Sharma, was unavailable for comment.
In a jet patch machine, air is blown at high speed from a blower to clean the road surface, then tar is poured over the affected area at a nozzle-like speed, and then a cold mixture is added.
Both a hot mix and a cold mix contain the same components as asphalt and bitumen. In a hot mixture, these components are heated to a high temperature of over 300 degrees Celsius and are ideally used in the construction of highly frequented traffic routes such as motorways. With a cold mix, these components are mixed with water and do not have to be heated. Cold Mix is ideal for patching potholes and other repair work.
After the cold mix is added, a final layer of tar is applied to level the road surface. Jet patch machines are usually mounted on construction vehicles.
Sewa Ram, associate professor and urban street design expert at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi, said jet patch machines will help MCG save both time and money.
“With a jet patcher machine, patchwork can be completed within a few hours. Another advantage is that the machines are mobile and can be transported to any other part of the city at short notice. The biggest benefit, however, is that MCG no longer has to run different tenders for localized road repair work. Instead, they can simply run jet patcher machines across the city, saving time and operating costs, ”said Sewa Ram.
This is how a jet patcher machine works
In a jet flicker machine, air is blown at high speed from a fan to clean the road surface, then tar is poured over the affected area at a jet-like speed, and then a cold mixture is added. A final layer of tar is applied to level the road surface and the pothole is filled. The entire process takes less than five minutes.
