Dear Shri Chahal , Please give a chance to COLD ASPHALT

 Context :

Two methods fail , BMC issues pothole-filling tender  .    TOI  /  25 July 2023

Extract :

 

 

 

MY  TAKE :

 

Dear Shri Chahal : Please consider COLD ASPHALT………………. 12 July 2022

 

Extract :

 

Dear Shri Chahal,

 

I urge you to get the experts at the Indian Road Congress to examine the feasibility and economics of using COLD ASPHALT , as suggested in my following 6 YEAR old email :

 

Ø  Keep Experimenting   ……………………………[  21  Feb  2016  ]

 

Extract :

 

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 kilometer - 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 ( leveller /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  !

 ===============================================

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  26  July  2023