Now, roads in Bihar to follow Mumbai model

You might be cursing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for bumpy roads every monsoon, but the Bihar government thinks otherwise. Kunal Purohit reports.

You might be cursing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for bumpy roads every monsoon, but the Bihar government thinks otherwise. The Bihar government is impressed with the BMC’s techinques and plans to replicate its road construction and maintenance technique.

HT Image

A delegation of officials from Bihar’s state road construction department visited the city in December and returned impressed, which was followed by the visit of an engineer from the civic body’s roads department, Vishal Thombare, to Patna early this month.

According to civic officials, the delegation was ‘highly impressed’ with one particular technique called the ultra white thin topping (UWTT). This technique is mainly used to repair asphalted roads. Officials said that the strength of this technique lies in the fact that roads can be repaired in a shorter duration and are more durable.

“An asphalted road, which is repaired with this technique, will have no potholes at least for 10 years. The delegation from Bihar was very impressed with this technique,” said a BMC official. Also, the level of the road would not increase.

A senior member of the delegation said, “Yes, they told us that utility digging did result in potholes. However, we were very impressed, particularly the UWTT technique.”

The official even said that the state would replicate it soon. “Next time we work on roads in Patna, we will use this technology.” RN Kulkarni, chief engineer, roads department said, “We are glad that they are impressed by our work.”