Bengaluru introduces jet patchers to fix potholes without disrupting traffic

Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Friday said Jet Patcher technology could help repair smaller potholes in the city without disrupting traffic or adding to congestion. He said Bengaluru needs different scientific and technology-based solutions for different kinds of potholes, and the new system is being tried as part of a pilot project.

Launching a demonstration of the technology on the road between Vidhana Soudha and MS Building, Gowda said potholes are widespread across Bengaluru and vary in depth and damage.

In some places, only the top asphalt layer has worn away, while in others both the asphalt and the underlying aggregate have deteriorated, creating deeper potholes.

"We are exploring scientific solutions suited to different types of potholes, and the Jet Patcher is one such solution. Today, they are beginning a pilot to assess the technology and, going forward, different technologies can be deployed depending on the nature and severity of the pothole," he said.

According to the minister's office, Gowda said the Jet Patcher is not meant for deep potholes, but is particularly suitable for potholes about two to three inches deep.

Explaining how it works, he said, "The machine allows us to work only on the damaged portion of the road. It cleans the dust and debris, applies the bitumen and wet mix, all through a single machine. This means repairs can be carried out even amid traffic, without creating roadblocks or major inconvenience to motorists."

He added that traffic can resume within about 10 minutes of the repair being completed, removing the need to take up such work only at night.

"Several important parts of Bengaluru have relatively small potholes of two or three inches in depth. Using this technology, these can potentially be repaired quickly, with less manpower and equipment, and without causing traffic disruption," Gowda said.

He said pothole repairs have traditionally depended on hot-mix technology, which requires a roller for compaction.

"Hot-mix repairs have their limitations. They cannot be carried out effectively during the monsoon, and the process requires a roller. If there is only one pothole on a road, deploying the entire setup may not be practical. Traffic also has to be stopped before the work begins, creating additional congestion," he said.

According to him, wet-mix technology allows even an isolated pothole to be repaired without shutting down traffic on the road.

The Central City Corporation has invited a tender worth Rs 2 crore for the pilot project, under which Jet Patcher-based pothole repairs have now begun.

"If the Jet Patcher technology proves successful here, we will soon expand its use to pothole repairs across all the city corporations," Gowda said.

Officials said the Advanced Jet Patcher machine is being deployed to repair potholes on city roads quickly, efficiently and in line with prescribed quality standards.

They added that the machine uses cold-mix technology and Semi Dense Bituminous Concrete to repair potholes up to 50 mm in depth.

Gowda said the pilot would help assess whether Jet Patcher technology can be used more widely in Bengaluru, especially for smaller potholes that can be repaired quickly without blocking traffic.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 11, 2026 21:00 IST