Bengaluru Startup Is Saving Lives and the Environment by Filling Potholes With Recycled Plastic

Potholes are a common sight on our roads and most of us have mastered the art of maneuvering through them, but when they become fatal, then it's a matter to be seriously dealt with. PotHoleRaja, a startup founded by Prathap Bhimasena Rao and Sourabh Kumar has helped citizens get rid of potholes and thus avoid accidents. The startup was founded in 2016, and since then, it has repaired around 30,000 potholes nationwide. Speaking to the Indian Express, Kumar who is the Director of the Bengaluru-based startup said that it was the news of people dying due to potholes that prompted them to start this venture. This year in July, the startup constructed a road outside the Ecoworld site in Bellandur utilizing GridMats, its patented product. It involves the use of recycled polypropylene to make the road's construction material. The idea behind GridMats is to repurpose plastic waste to create durable and sustainable roads and pavements. As in normally built concrete roadways, this technology does not employ steel reinforcements. Kumar revealed that they have currently installed 5,000 square meters of GridMat in locations like Bengaluru and Mumbai, and very soon they will be able to operate in Hyderabad. He said that there have been inquiries from Africa and people there have expressed an interest in bringing their technology to their continent. The  Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and PotHoleRaja have collaborated on numerous road construction projects. PotHoleRaja makes sure the roads are built for future use and can be used in other parts of the city as well.