What are self-healing roads that India may introduce to tackle the big pothole problem? (2024)

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A road trip in India often conjures an image of a bumpy ride, courtesy the many potholes on the roads spread across the length and breadth of our country. Potholes on Indian roads have, in fact, become a topic to discuss — there are thousands of memes, jokes and daily water cooler conversations that surround them.

However, what if potholes became a thing of the past? What if we said that the roads in India would soon have the ability to heal?

For those who think we are joking, this is no joke. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is, in fact, beginning work on adopting a new technology that would allow roads to heal and for potholes to become history.

Here’s the long winding truth behind this new technology that could revolutionise the way Indians travel.

Self-healing roads to the rescue

The NHAI, which is responsible for management of a road network of national highways in the country, is looking at the adoption of self-healing asphalt to address the persistent issue of potholes in the country.

“We are considering ingenious and unconventional methods to improve durability and to address the issue of potholes,” a senior government official told Economic Times on the condition of anonymity.

The Economic Times report, however, citing the official said that the technology would be adopted after a cost-benefit analysis is conducted. “This could increase the lifespan of roads and practically eliminate the need for road maintenance, while bringing down traffic disruption.”

Self-healing roads, explained

When we say self-healing roads, we are referring to using self-healing asphalt. Asphalt is one of the key compounds that make up a road and is a naturally self-healing material. It is also referred to as smart asphalt, and it is gaining buzz in the world of road repair.

Self-healing roads or smart asphalt is a ground-breaking material infused with steel fibres and epoxy capsules, which can repair small cracks and prevent water infiltration. It is done by applying heat to the steel fibres using an induction machine, which then causes the mortar with the asphalt to melt and repair itself.

This technology was developed by Erik Schlangen, a civil engineering professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. In fact, researchers in the Netherlands have created a few so-called self-healing roads, which are capable of closing cracks without external help.

Researchers believe that while it would be more expensive to manufacture these roads, the removal of maintenance costs would make them cheaper in the long run. Moreover, this technology would make roads long-lasting, as long as even 80 years.

Schlangen also said that along with improving roads with the use of this technology, it also has other benefits. He said the wires can easily conduct electricity, giving rise to the potential of wireless driving for electric vehicles.

“Putting steel fibres in the asphalt mean that you can send information to it, so it might be possible to charge electric cars on the road they’re driving on,” Schlangen has been quoted as saying. “This is early, but we are going to make some trials in front of traffic lights, where the idea is that you can charge your car a bit while waiting in traffic.”

India’s pothole problems

Self-healing roads could be the answer for India, which struggles with potholes. In fact, cratered roads across the country have been the cause of several road accidents. In 2022, government data reveals that there were 4,446 accidents due to potholes, which led to the deaths of 1,856 people and caused injuries to 3,734 others.

Compare this to 2021 when there were 3,625 accidents owing to potholes, causing the deaths of 1,483 people and injuring another 3,103.

Also read: Maharashtra’s monsoon tragedy: Of potholes, deaths, and broken promises

Even Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has commented on the issue of potholes in the country. In September last year, he had said that the government was working on a policy to ensure that there are no potholes on national highways.

Furthermore, the judiciary has also taken note of the cratered roads across the country. In August last year, the Bombay High Court said that the cause of deaths of pedestrians or cyclists falling in manholes or potholes is “man-made” and not a natural cause. It had also come down heavily on the state government for not taking appropriate action on poor roads in the financial capital of the country.

In 2018, the Supreme Court had also termed the deaths caused by road accidents unacceptable. A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur had said the number of deaths caused due to potholes across the country was “probably more than those killed on the border or by the terrorists”.

Self-healing roads across the world

Self-healing asphalt has been tested on 12 different roads in the Netherlands, and one of these has been functioning and open to the public since 2010. All are still in perfect condition, notes Schlangen.

Even the United Kingdom is considering using this technology on its roads with universities at Bath, Cardiff and Cambridge developing its own self-healing concrete.

It will be a long road to having self-healing roads in India, but one thing is certain: if they do become a reality, it will be a farewell to bumpy, back-breaking travels and hello to smooth rides. And we are all for the latter!

With inputs from agencies

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