The city-based NGO,  ‘Better Kochi Response Group’ (BKRG), which has
mooted the idea of using cold mix or cold bitumen for filling the
potholes in the city, conducted a demonstration in this regard on
Saturday.

BKRG, which is an NGO authorised by the state government
to co-ordinate the PWD infrastructure activities in the city, carried
out the  demonstration on a pothole in front of KMA building.

According
to BKRG, filling potholes with cold mix or cold bitumen can be done
even on rainy days and does not need much labour, equipment or heating.

“In this method, an average-sized pothole can be filled single-handedly and takes only 10 to 15 minutes.

“Since
no heating or melting is involved, there is no air pollution and it is
very safe for workers. It does not disturb traffic around the section
where the work is being carried out and there is no sound pollution
either”, according to a statement issued by BKRG here.

The
demonstration was carried out by Muralidharan Kurup who represents Shell
Company and the product used was Shelmac PR. Initially, the potholes
were cleaned and stagnant water was removed.

The product, which
comes in ready mix condition in packets, was spread on the pot hole and
levelled and rammed by a single labourer. “The whole filling process
took less than 20 minutes and the road, which was in a wet condition,
was ready to use instantly”, the BKRG statement added.

Kochi mayor
Tony Chammany, Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) chairman N 
Venugopal, deputy mayor B Bhadra, GCDA town planner Gopalakrishnan,
Kochi corporation town planning standing committee chairman K J Sohan
and officials from PWD and other agencies were also present on the
occasion.

“Later, the GCDA chairman’s car was driven over the
repaired area twice and the patch work remained intact without any
damage”, said the officebearers of BKRG.