Climate Redesign Award: Breakthrough Climate Innovation
Climate Collective Foundation, Delhi Climate Innovation Week
Media, talks & research
A decade of headlines, talks and proof
From a WhatsApp number in 2016 to a TEDx stage, Shark Tank India and a 68-minute design conversation: what journalists, broadcasters and researchers have said about PotHoleRaja and GridMats.
33
news stories and features
8
TV features and films
6
talks and interviews, including TEDx
11
awards, certifications and recognitions
Watch
The talks and films to start with
Godrej Design Lab × The Gyaan ProjectHow can India build roads that last?A long conversation with Dr Prathap B on why roads fail, recycled plastic, GridMats and what India needs to rethink.
TEDxLavelleRoadFixing the world, one pothole at a timeWhy complaining is not a plan, and how citizens and companies can make their own roads pothole-free.
Shark Tank India · Season 3The GridMats pitchRecycled-plastic road mats, pitched to India's best-known investors on prime-time TV.
On TV and on film
Features, documentaries and panels
WIONBengaluru's 'Pothole Raja': a unique initiative by citizens
CNBC AwaazThe business journey of PotHoleRaja, the start-up filling potholes with plastic waste
The UpStream LifeFixing the most Indian of problems: the story of PotHoleRaja
The India Advantage SummitInfrastructure and prop-tech panel, Bengaluru
ETV News18 KannadaPotHoleRaja with the Lioness Club
ETV Kannada NewsPotHoleRaja on the morning bulletin
GridMatsGridMats research and applications
GridMatsHow GridMats panels are made
Also featured on DD News, Mirror Now, Red FM and Radio One 94.3.
Recognition
Awards, certifications and stages
GridMats, invented by Dr Prathap B, and the PotHoleRaja programmes have been recognised by climate, mobility and industry bodies.
IIT Hyderabad research on GridMats presented at TGS 2026
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru · for Springer publication
Sustainable Infrastructure Innovator Award (SDG 9)
Adani Green Talks Social Impact Awards
Featured pitch, Shark Tank India Season 3
Shark Tank India
Featured in the “Be The Better Guy” road-safety campaign
Hyundai
Best Innovative Solution, UMI Innovation Challenge
Urban Mobility India
SARTHI Awards finalist, top 10 of 100+ entries
FICCI and ADPC, Bali, alongside the UN Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
Solution listed on World Economic Forum UpLink
World Economic Forum
Climate impact certificate: 140 t of plastic waste managed
Climate Collective Foundation
CII GreenPro certified product (GPGEP277001)
Confederation of Indian Industry
Industry partner, Solar Decathlon India
sdichallenge.in
Ecosystem support: Startup India, AGNIi (Government of India), Social Alpha, Tata Trusts and Brigade REAP.
In the news
Every story, newest first
49 pieces of national and regional coverage, from The Hindu and The Times of India to WION, CNBC Awaaz and YourStory.
2026
- 13 Jan 2026The Better IndiaInside PotHoleRaja's technology that turns recycled plastic into safer, stronger roadsNews
- Sep 2026Godrej Design Lab × The Gyaan ProjectHow can India build roads that last? (podcast, 68 min)Talk
2024
- 15 May 2024Autocar IndiaHyundai “Be The Better Guy” with PotHoleRajaNews
- 2024Shark Tank IndiaSeason 3: the GridMats pitchTV
2023
- 23 Jun 2023HomegrownA civic start-up is on a mission to fix Indian roads using recycled plasticNews
- 4 Feb 2023The Financial ExpressFixing India's pothole problem: what needs to be doneNews
2022
- 18 Dec 2022Khabar InfraPotHoleRaja embarks on a road-repair mission using plastic wasteNews
- 4 Nov 2022Surfaces ReporterIs there a technology to make roads pothole-free? GridMatsNews
- 24 Oct 2022ADPC · CARE for South Asia newsletterPatched-up and Pothole-free: an interview with Dr Prathap RaoTalk
- 12 Oct 2022Business StandardPotHoleRaja: how one start-up is fixing roads the eco-friendly wayNews
- 24 Sep 2022The New Indian ExpressPotHoleRaja: comrades-in-arms for a good causeNews
- Aug 2022YourStoryPotHoleRaja uses recycled plastic and tech to make roads saferNews
- 1 Aug 2022The Better IndiaPotHoleRaja builds a 25% cheaper road from 3,000 kg of plasticNews
- 31 Jul 2022Commercial Design IndiaBengaluru's first sustainable road, made with over 3,000 kg of recycled plasticNews
- Jul 2022Realty+Brookfield Properties builds Bengaluru's first sustainable road with recycled plasticNews
- 18 Jul 2022Planet CustodianBengaluru's first plastic-waste road, made of 3,000 kg of wasteNews
- 15 Jul 2022The Hans IndiaPotHoleRaja builds road from Ecoworld to ORR using 100% recycled plastic wasteNews
- 14 Jul 2022The HinduIn Bengaluru, road built with 100% recycled plastic waste between Ecoworld and ORRNews
- 5 May 2022SocioStoryOn a mission to make the world pothole-free, PotHoleRaja has also been saving livesNews
2021
- 23 Nov 2021Deccan HeraldThis Bengaluru group repairs potholes across IndiaNews
2020
- 3 Aug 2020The New Indian ExpressPotHoleRaja: Bengaluru organisation filling potholes launches a new initiativeNews
- 20 Jul 2020Your Philanthropy StoryPothole RajaNews
2019
- 17 Oct 2019RealtyNXTRealtyNXT talks exclusively to the founder of PotHoleRaja, Prathap RaoTalk
- Oct 2019YourStory TechSparksFix them yourself, don't wait for the government, urges PotHoleRajaTalk
- 28 Aug 2019The Economic TimesWhen govt fails, citizens get down to work, and succeedNews
- 14 Jun 2019The Logical IndianA former Indian Air Force pilot is fixing potholes to make Bengaluru's roads saferNews
2018
- 15 Dec 2018Deccan HeraldWhitefield residents fix potholes on their ownNews
- Dec 2018YourStoryStop blaming, fix potholes yourself: with 4,500 potholes fixed, PotHoleRaja shows howNews
- 12 Nov 2018Bangalore MirrorA Bengalurean speaks the hole truthNews
2017
- Dec 2017TEDxLavelleRoadFixing the world, one pothole at a timeTalk
- 28 Oct 2017India TodayBengaluru: fed up with potholes, citizens take matters into their own handsNews
- 4 Oct 2017The Times of IndiaPothole Raja steps in when Palike failsNews
- 23 Sep 2017Prajavaniರಸ್ತೆ ಗುಂಡಿ ಮುಚ್ಚುವ ಸ್ವಯಂಸೇವೆ (volunteers who fill potholes)News
- 16 Sep 2017City Hub NewsEmployees of UL fix potholes in Whitefield with help of Pothole RajaNews
- 7 May 2017The News MinuteMeet Bengaluru's PotHoleRaja: he wants to fix the city's roadsNews
- Mar 2017ETV Kannada NewsPotHoleRaja on the morning bulletinTV
- 2017The Better IndiaBengaluru's Pothole RajaNews
Earlier
- ArchiveWIONBengaluru's 'Pothole Raja': a unique initiative by citizensTV
- ArchiveCNBC AwaazThe business journey of PotHoleRaja (Hindi)TV
- ArchiveThe UpStream LifeFixing the most Indian of problems: the story of PotHoleRajaTV
- ArchiveETV News18 KannadaPotHoleRaja with the Lioness ClubTV
- ArchiveCivil SocietyMore people die in pothole mishaps than terror attacks (interview)Talk
- ArchiveUdayavani“Pothole Raja”: a Bengaluru man's initiative to make roads pothole-free and saferNews
- ArchiveBeing ReporterSpotted a pothole? Just WhatsApp Pothole Raja, Bengaluru's new superhero (no longer online)News
- ArchiveMTV IndiaBe the change you wish to see: five millennials who would have made Gandhiji sigh with relief (no longer online)News
- ArchiveRed FMPotHoleRaja on airRadio
- ArchiveRadio One 94.3PotHoleRaja on airRadio
- ArchiveDD NewsPotHoleRaja featureTV
- ArchiveMirror NowPotHoleRaja featureTV
60-second explainers
The ideas, one minute at a time
PotHoleRaja · 1:57Why I started PotHoleRaja
GridMats · 1:36Recycled plastic roads that don't need repair
GridMats · 1:331 lakh m² built: from research to road standards
GridMats · 1:49Smart roads: IoT sensors inside the pavement
GridMats · 1:41Solar footpaths, green walls and cooler cities
Godrej Design Lab · ShortCan we make roads more sustainable by design?
Godrej Design Lab · ShortCould plastic build better roads?
The Gyaan Project · ShortEngineering the Everyday, clip 1
The Gyaan Project · ShortEngineering the Everyday, clip 2
Intellectual property
Patented in India, filed internationally
- Patent No. 398992GridMats® recycled-plastic mats, invented by Dr Prathap B. Indian patent, granted.
- PCT IN2022050735GridMats® international (PCT) application, published as WO/2023/100191.
- IN202641056222IoT-enabled cooling surface for urban heat, invented by Dr Prathap B. Indian patent application, published in May 2026.
Independent testing
Tested by universities
IIT Hyderabad
Pavement studies of GridMats, 2025, presented at TGS 2026 at IISc for Springer publication.
MSRIT, Bengaluru
Flexural strength testing of GridMats samples.
RV College of Engineering
Civil engineering faculty on our advisory committee.
Writing
From the founder and the field
Essays on roads, governance, volunteering and social enterprise from the PotHoleRaja blog. The founder’s book, Cockpit to Potholes, is forthcoming.
- Aug 2020Volunteering: paving the way to make a difference
- Aug 2020Transgender employment in India
- Jul 2020Collaboration: engagement for achieving goals together
- Jul 2020You are NOT just a student!
- Jul 2020The fate of migrant workers during the pandemic
- Jun 2020Is road maintenance so important?
- Dec 2019Pothole menace in Bangalore
- Dec 2019Pothole: chickenpox on roads. Is it common around the world?
- Dec 2019A journey from Bangalore to Hazira
- Nov 2019A note from a citizen to PotHoleRaja
- Nov 2019What does it take to be a social entrepreneur and make an impact?
- Nov 2019Bureaucracy with mediocracy in governance of roads and infrastructure
- 2016Pothole menace in Bangalore (LinkedIn article by Dr Prathap B Rao)
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For journalists and researchers