NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is thinking of introducing cutting-edge self-healing asphalt technology, which has the potential to revolutionize road upkeep in the nation. This method attempts to solve the enduring problem of potholes, which in India are a major cause of traffic accidents and fatalities. According to a senior government source, the emphasis is on non-traditional ways to improve road resilience and lessen the pothole issue.
Bitumen, the asphalt's binding ingredient, is combined with tiny bits of steel wool to create self-healing asphalt, which is conductive. The bitumen in the asphalt rebinds with the stones and gravel when heated by an induction machine, filling up fissures and preventing the formation of potholes. To make sure the technology is practical and effective, the government intends to carry out a thorough cost-benefit analysis before implementing it widely.
In line with forecasts from prior years, the road transport and highways ministry has set up Rs 2,600 crore for road maintenance in the 2024–25 budget. The necessity for such technology was highlighted in 2022 when potholes on major highways in India caused a 22.6% increase in traffic accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Institute (NHAI) hopes to minimize traffic delays by extending the life of roads and lowering maintenance costs through the use of self-healing asphalt.
