15 Years Later: BMC Rolls Out Engineer’s UTWT Tech to Fix Mumbai’s Potholes

Fifteen years after its invention by BMC engineer Vishal Thombare, Mumbai’s civic body is scaling the Ultra-Thin White Topping (UTWT) method to repair roads citywide. The technique, developed during Thombare’s PhD at IIT Mumbai, involves layering M60-grade concrete (100mm thick) over existing asphalt, reducing porosity and enabling roads to open within 7 days (vs. 28 days for traditional methods).

 

Key advantages:

 

Durability: UTWT roads have a lifespan of 25+ years with little upkeep, defying monsoons and high volumes.

 

Cost-saving: Reuses existing asphalt foundations, saving full excavation costs.

 

Rapid repair: Cured sections open up in 72 hours for priority routes.

 

Trialled since 2009 on Mulund's Ganesh Gawde and Vithal Bhai roads, UTWT has registered zero potholes after monsoons. Bihar and Tripura too are considering the tech.

 

 Sources: Indian Express, Mumbai Mirror, Times of India