Cold Asphalt is THE ANSWER

Hindustan Times ( 19 July ) carries a news report titled :

"  BMC to test new materials to fix potholes "

Report goes on to say :

" The BMC has identified five private companies , each of which will need to fill 50 sq meters of potholes on various roads. They will be using their own technology on trial basis .

Sources said the five firms had given presentations in which a ready mix of  POWDERED BITUMEN stored at normal ROOM TEMPERATURE  in 25 kg bags, could be  DIRECTLY POURED  onto the potholes. Using this mix, potholes can be LEVELED QUICKLY and roads THROWN  OPEN TO TRAFFIC IN 20 MINUTES.... according to these companies , their materials will work on a WET SURFACE TOO   "

I am glad that someone in BMC managed to hack into my mail-box and downloaded my following email to Shri Nitin Gadakari-ji :

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Sunday, 21 February 2016

Keep Experimenting !

Shri Nitin Gadkari likes to experiment and take the accompanying risks

He is not afraid to stick out his neck for fear of it getting chopped off 

He is not paralyzed into inaction by  " fear of failure "

He like to tell his officers , " Forget the  history - what is your problem ? "

Then offers solutions such as :

*  Logistic parks around big cities to decongest roads and reduce pollution

*  RFID sensor embedded vehicles , paying toll amount electronically without stopping / needing humans

*  E-rickshaws to be treated on par with petrol driven rickshaws

*  By passing Bharat V emission standards to directly jump to Bharat VI standards for all vehicles

*  Introducing hybrid model of financing for attracting private participation in Highway construction

*  Use of slag cement in construction of highways ( use of waste by-products of Steel Industry )

Dear Shri Gadkariji  :

Allow me to suggest use of " COLD  ASPHALT " technology for building new roads / filling pot holes

Use of hot asphalt requires a very narrow temperature range within which it must be spread on roads before rolling

Any hotter and it will just stick to the roller . Any colder and it just won't set

It is difficult to maintain such narrow range ( of temperature ) after asphalt carrying truck travels hundreds of kilometers - even when that truck has a heating jacket ( consuming lots of fuel ! )

If solidified asphalt ( usually stored in steel drums ) is used at the construction site , then it needs to be heated / melted locally ( usually by creating a wood fire ) - causing pollution and consuming trees !

And hot asphalt would just not adhere to a wet surface , rendering it useless for use in monsoon - especially for repair of pot holes

"  COLD  ASPHALT  " technology overcomes ALL of these problems  !

*  It consists of mixing water ( 90 % ) with hot asphalt ( 9 % ) in presence of a specialty chemical ( 1 % ) , in a

    very simple Mixing Machine which can be transported anywhere on a trolley

*  This liquid mixture can remain stored in steel drums at ROOM  TEMPERATURE for over ONE YEAR !

*  Drums containing liquid can be transported and stored at road construction sites and COLD  ASPHALT mixed

    with sand / aggregates as and when required . No ripping / destroying of drums and breaking of solid asphalt

*  There is no need for ANY temperature control as mixture / aggregate can remain at  AMBIENT  temperature

*  Since Cold Asphalt is basically water ( 90 % ) , it is ideally suited for filling wet pot holes or laying on wet roads

*  After laying / spreading , as soon as a heavy roller is driven over Cold Asphalt mixed aggregate , chemical bond

   between water and asphalt is broken due to heavy pressure and  setting process starts , causing the layer to

   solidify . 

Within a matter of MINUTES , regular traffic can flow over the road  ! or over the filled pot holes  !

*  Use of Cold Asphalt technology results in a HUGE COST SAVING  ( remember , it is 90 % water ! )

*  Cold Asphalt roads are much easier to repair , with no pollution , and very little energy consumption


*  Using Cold Asphalt technology, 3 machines ( leveler / spreader / roller ) can lay 1 KM ROAD IN A DAY  !

I have personally seen NATIONAL HIGHWAYS being constructed with Cold Asphalt technology in France , way back in 1988  !

You may turn around and ask :

"  With these advantages , how come our PWD / Municipalities have not adopted this revolutionary technology ? "

My guess :

Because those responsible for drawing up tender documents , insist on use of Hot Asphalt !

And you know , why  !

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20  July  2016

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs