PWD may use machines for pothole-filling across state

Maharashtra public works department has decided to use 'Jet Patcher', a machine to repair the road pits speedily, across the state if pilot project gives positive results.
The conventional way of road repairs is time consuming, hence the Jet Patcher machine is being used on Mumbai roads and also in Pune district on pilot basis, Chandrakant Patil, state PWD minister, said.
"There was no permanent solution to the frequently rising problem of roads getting damaged and affecting the smooth rides. The traditional way of filling the potholes was also not effective and led to further road damage," Patil said.
Jet Patcher is deployed on a heavy commercial vehicle and can be moved easily from one location to another. It carries all the necessary equipment for road repairing. The cleaning of the potholes, primary spraying of emulsion tar, laying the material in the pit and using layers to fill the entire pothole are carried out by single machines, hence it saves working hours, Patil said.

The machine can repair the potholes and open up a road in an hour, Patil said.
The pilot project started from November 21 and is being implemented on Alandi road in Khed tehsil of Pune district.
"There are five such machines that are being used on pilot basis. We will soon review the work quality and its effectiveness. If we get a positive report of all the machines, then we will scale up the work and implement it across the state," Patil added.