The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has introduced an advanced ‘BT Pothole Doctor’ machine to speed up road repairs and improve safety across the city.
The ₹1.30-crore machine was formally inaugurated in the South Zone on Monday by Visakhapatnam Collector and GVMC Special Officer Abhishikth Kishore along with Commissioner Ketan Garg. Officials demonstrated its operation, which includes cleaning potholes, filling them with bituminous material and completing patchwork efficiently.
The machine can repair nearly 300 square metres of potholes a day, with each repair taking around 10 to 15 minutes. GVMC said the machine can cover 10 to 15 locations daily.
A special action plan has been prepared to deploy it across all city zones, with priority given to major roads, busy stretches and locations requiring urgent repairs.
The collector directed officials to regularly identify potholes, particularly those caused by rains, and ensure quality repairs through field inspections.