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Jun 27, 2023

Pothole menace: Why Bengaluru's roads resemble the lunar surface

Pothole deaths are the most devastating accidents. Monsoon and a cut in utility maintenance worsen the condition of potholes. There are many causes for a cut in utility maintenance: new utility

Pothole deaths are the most devastating accidents. Monsoon and a cut in utility maintenance worsen the condition of potholes. There are many causes for a cut in utility maintenance: new utility connections (such as water, sewage and power lines), pipe damage due to heavy traffic movement, old pipe replacements, BESCOM line damage, etc.

If potholes are not constantly monitored and maintained, they can result in large craters, which can be fatal for motorists, especially two-wheelers.

Read more: Bengaluru’s potholes cost lives and money, but here’s how you can hold BBMP accountable

It is essential to understand the root causes of potholes. Below is a breakdown of each contributing cause, along with the necessary measures that should be undertaken to effectively tackle them.

The most common cause of pothole formation is loss of adhesive in bituminous wearing courses due to entry of water. The pavement becomes soft as a result of loss of cohesion and due to traffic stress. If this is not addressed on time, aggregates in the surface get progressively loose, which results in a pothole.

Inadequate bonding between bituminous surfacing and underlying water-bound macadam, a compacted layer of tar-bound broken stones used for road surfacing, can also lead to potholes.

A thin bituminous surface, which is unable to withstand heavy traffic, and improper, inadequate camber (a road designed and constructed to enable water drainage is known as a camber) can also cause potholes.

Read more: Road safety: Audit reveals BBMP roads most hazardous, with 19-20 hazards per km

In part two of this series, we will look at what BBMP can do to address the pothole menace.

[Compiled by Raghu Rajagopal]