Jet-patcher fills potholes on Devaraj Urs Road near MS Building

A jet-patcher sprayed cold-mix asphalt into potholes on Devaraj Urs Road near MS Building on September 11, as Karnataka Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda watched the demonstration.

The road connects Ambedkar Veedhi with Basaveshwara Circle and is used by people travelling to Vidhana Soudha, the CAG office, Karnataka Information Commission, Karnataka Public Service Commission and Legislators’ Home. Rakesh S, a driver, said repeated patches on the stretch had worn away quickly, particularly during rain. Parking attendant Nagaraj said two-wheelers had fallen after hitting potholes there.

Jet-patchers are intended for surface-level potholes and can work without significantly disrupting traffic. Gowda said the method would not solve the city’s wider pothole problem on its own. Hot-mix asphalt, he said, needs a roller and a full load, making frequent small repairs difficult.

The GBA plans to deploy five machines from September 2026 to September 2027 to repair 14,041 sq m of road surface at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore. The GBA will assess the machines’ performance before deciding whether to extend the technology to the other four city corporations, alongside its planned monthly review of potholes, garbage and streetlights.