Does it really patch up all the problems?

Bangalore Roads may soon be smooth and pothole free, if the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) succeeds in their goals to mend all the potholes on the city roads.For years now the city has been suffering from poor road conditions. They are either broken or have numerous potholes on one stretch itself. As a result commuting on Bangalore roads is a pain. According to (BBMP) Engineer in Chief, B T Ramesh, of the 10,000 odd potholes in the city, the BBMP has managed to cover up most of them. “Approximately 500 potholes are left that need to be filled and covered,” he said.However, is patchwork the way out? “Reasphalting the entire road would turn out to be a very expensive affair. Patchwork is a good and efficient solution,” he explained. There are a number of roads in the city that required urgent attention. While most have been attended to, others still require repair.Trinity Circle on MG Road is a classic example of the BBMP’s efforts to mend the broken patch. Before the patch work, one side of the road was in a battered state. “Everyone was stuck to the right side of the road which was in a better condition. As a result there used to be a lot of traffic problems there,” said a resident of Brunton Road on the condition of anonymity.Addressing the issue, Ramesh said that soon they will construct a culvert across the road. A culvert is a device used to channel water. “It will allow the water to pass through an underground passage towards the petrol pump. Once the project is passed, we will begin work shortly,” he added.Speaking of broken patches, when asked about the condition of the road under the Metro, he said that the stretch from MG Road to Byappanahalli will be relayed. “While the base will be maintained the top layer, that is the asphalt layer will be removed and will be replaced with reinforced concrete cement,” he mentioned. He also said that 50 per cent of the cost will be shared by BMRCL while the rest will be borne by BBMP.But the question that arises is, will the patchwork be strong enough to face the rain? BBMP Executive engineer East, Somshekhar assures that the patchwork being taken up is of better quality when compared to that of the previous years. “The patchwork quality has improved greatly. There is a systematic and organised method that is followed,” he informed City Express.The patch to be worked on is cut in a geometrical pattern. It is usually a square or a rectangle. Nine inches of the road is dug which is then cleaned. Next comes the hot mix and the eventually the rolling. When asked about the unevenness of the work, Somshekhar agreed that there are some places where the patchwork has not been leveled. “I have instructed my engineers to ensure that the level of the patchwork matches the original surface level of the road. However, in time it the patch will settle down due to vehicular movement.“As of now we have covered most arterial roads and secondary roads in the city. In some places the work is still pending due to the weather condition. Due to the wet conditions and the rain, the Bitumen bonding is not that effective. Hence, once the weather conditions are appropriate enough, all the potholes will be mended,” he added. Can the patchwork stand the test of time and rain? Only time will tell.