Dr Shekhar C Mande, DG, CSIR in his opening remarks appreciated the collaboration between CSIR-CRRI and JCB India. He praised the idea of demonstration of prototype machine to all the stakeholders and getting their feedback to improvise the machine further.

Prof Satish Chandra, Director, CSIR-CRRI in his welcome note stressed upon the need of such mechanism for road maintenance agencies in India and indicated that this is the first attempt to develop an indigenous pothole repair machine in the country.

Subir Kumar Chowdhury, Managing Director & CEO, JCB India, said, ?Ever since we started our operations in India four decades ago, JCB machines have contributed immensely towards the creation of roads and highways across the country. There is a need to develop a modern, productive and viable solution for the repair of roads that have been built over time. This new product developed by us with the support of the CRRI is based on our popular 3DX backhoe loader. We feel that it will have significant utility in improving infrastructure in India. It will also help in improving safety through the reduction of accidents caused due to potholes.?

This new model has been designed to specifically meet the needs of roads and highway contractors, the local administration and rental companies. The machine has a set of JCB attachments and controls, integrated on a 3DX backhoe loader to carry out pothole repairs.

This innovation was conceptualised one year ago with CSIR-CRRI at JCB India. CRRI has provided its emulsion-based recipe for the filling mix and this solution is an integrated offering by JCB with its attachment and control solutions on a JCB backhoe loader. It does not alter the standard hydraulics, engine power, circuits and electrics of the basic 3DX machine. The electrical circuits for the compressed air and the compactor attachment are fully integrated.

The machine will also be fitted with JCB?s advanced telematics technology called Livelink. This will help in exact monitoring of progress of repair projects as it will enable real time updates of the machine movement, location and its operations