The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is set to revolutionise road maintenance across the city with the launch of its upgraded online ‘Asphaltum System’ from December 1. The platform, part of the e-KMC 2.0 initiative, aims to digitise the production and distribution of hot mix, the core material used in road repair projects, enabling faster, more transparent operations for municipal departments.
KMC operates two Asphaltum Plants—located at Palmer Bazar and Goragacha—that supply hot mix to all 16 boroughs and coordinate with the Roads, Drainage, and Water Supply departments. The plants also cater to agencies such as the Public Works Department, the Housing & Residential Board Corporation, neighbouring municipalities, and select private entities, generating additional revenue for the civic body. An official highlighted that digitising requisitions, tracking, and deliveries will reduce administrative delays while improving resource allocation. Under the new system, all hot-mix requests from departments will be submitted online, allowing the platform to provide real-time availability at the two plants before generating indents. This transparency is expected to help officials plan repair schedules efficiently while tracking plant productivity and machinery utilisation—including pavers, payloaders, and cold-milling machines. An industry expert noted that centralised data on equipment usage and performance will support predictive maintenance and more accurate budget planning for future infrastructure works.
Inventory management is another focus of the digital system. Every raw material, from stone chips and sand to bulk bitumen and milled materials, will be tracked to maintain stock transparency and prevent shortages. Attendance and production-linked incentives for plant workers will also be recorded digitally, improving workforce management and aligning labour output with civic project goals. Officials further explained that once a department receives its hot-mix allocation, the system will automatically generate utilisation reports that feed into KMC’s annual audit records. “This level of accountability ensures that road repairs are monitored from production to implementation, creating a more sustainable and efficient civic process,” an official said.
Experts suggest that the digitalisation of road repair materials could serve as a model for other Indian cities aiming to integrate technology with municipal operations. By centralising hot mix management, KMC not only aims to streamline urban maintenance but also strengthen its broader commitment to building sustainable, resilient, and equitable infrastructure. The platform’s introduction is expected to improve the city’s responsiveness to road damage, reduce delays in critical repairs, and enhance transparency in public works, contributing to a smarter, digitally enabled Kolkata.
Kolkata Introduces Digital Platform To Monitor And Manage Road Repair Works
