AEW’s Dr. Road: Doing Away with Potholes Instantly
What are the features of Dr. Road pothole repair machine?
Dr. Road is a fully indigenous road repair and maintenance machine developed in-house by AEW. We were very happy to have Shri Nitin Gadkari launch this product and inspect its operations during its demonstration at a road repair site.
It is designed specially to tackle potholes that develop during the rainy season with quality mixing materials. It is compact, easy to load or mount on a 20-feet long truck and has a fully automatic control panel. This zero-maintenance machine has a long lifespan, and we provide all the necessary support and service for its smooth working to our customers.
We are confident that MoRTH will encourage the States to implement our pothole repair machine as it offers a proven technology that is approved across the world. We have started manufacturing Dr. Road keeping in mind Indian road structures and conditions.
At AEW, we sell more than just equipment; we also provide solutions specific to customer requirements. We will continue to expand our range of road repair and construction machines to meet market demand.
As per recent Indian Government figures, potholes claimed ~2,300 lives annually during the years 2015 to 2020. However, potholes are still not patched properly and promptly as and when they develop. Please comment.
Potholes are usually the result of water in the underlying soil structure and the traffic passing over the affected area. Water first weakens the underlying soil, and traffic on the road then fatigues and breaks the poorly supported asphalt surface in the affected area.
Besides potholes, road accidents are also caused due to damaged roads, hairpin bends, sharp curves, and steep gradients. The government has therefore emphasized that road safety should be an integral part of road design at the planning stage. Also, identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone areas) on national highways have been put into practice. MoRTH has also delegated powers to its regional officers for technical approval of constructed and repaired roads. Guidelines for pedestrian facilities on National Highways and for persons with disabilities are also issued to all the States. The government is proactively working towards enhancing road infrastructure and safety in the country.
Why has India been slow in adopting pothole repairing technology that meets Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications?
In India, we need highly economical and effective pothole repairing machines that meet the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications. Our roads are one of busiest in the world. Damaged roads impact the country’s economy in many ways, so, they must be repaired at the earliest.
Our Dr. Road produces a generic mix as per IRC specifications. The combination of aggregates and the composition is unique and bonds with the road even when the surface is wet, making the machine the best solution during the rains. What’s more, roads under repair do not have to be blocked to traffic when Dr. Road is in operation. This is because potholes can be filled within 5 to 10 minutes and the road is as good to use as a new one. Hence, our pothole repair machine Dr. Road is a true saviour of precious lives on roads as it repairs damaged and potholed roads instantly.
That’s a lot of fixed holes, but knowing the average speed of roadwork. It’s doubtful even these machines will ever reach that kind of speed, unfortunately. The refilling is likely to be the bottleneck.
Do you have plans to export Dr. Road?
Yes, we will consider exporting it as this technology is very expensive in other countries. We have an advantage over other international brands, as we can offer a product that ensures efficient performance, is cost-effective, low in maintenance, and which ultimately gives value for money to the buyers.
NBM&CW October 2022
