BMC dumps norms in the pits, uses ‘ineffective’ hot mix technique

The civic administration is at fault yet again on fixing potholes, but this time around they know it. Despite fresh guidelines by the state-appointed standing technical advisory committee (STAC) and municipal commissioner to not to use hot mix technique, the authorities are using it to fill potholes.

“The hot mixture is readily available and right now our priority is to repair roads before the final Ganpati immersion day, so we are using this method,” said Satish Badve, chief engineer, roads department. The STAC for roads monitoring and repair, in its recent meeting last month, recommended only cold mixture for filling potholes during monsoon.

Last week, municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar had also announced that only cold mixture technique will be used for pothole repair work before immersions. “Cold mix is most suitable during a wet spell. Even when it rains heavily the filling would last throughout the festive season. For urgent repairs, we have informed the contractors to procure ample quantity of the mixture,” Kumar had said.

But, the roads department did not notify the contractors to switch to cold mixture technique.  The hot mixture technique uses concrete bituminous at a high temperature of 150 degree Celsius and requires a dry spell and traffic diversion when applied.

Instead of the cumbersome hot mix, experts prefer the cold mixture, which has no temperature specification for laying on potholed surface. It works well even during rainfall. But civic officials maintain that considering the urgency for pothole-free roads, they were forced to use the hot mixture technique.

“The cold mixture is a patented technology and we need to procure them from the respective companies. We can’t hold up work for that. So, we started work with the material that was available,” said a senior civic official.

“Civic authorities have written to the firms that offer their patented cold mix technique. Once they supply their patented cold mix material. We will put it to use,” added Badve.

But, Ganesh mandals continue to be miffed with the civic administration for the tardy work. “The way they are progressing with their work, the roads will not be pothole-free till the last visarjan day. We are prepared to tackle with the pothole menace in our own way,” said Naresh Dahibawkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti.