The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to develop the second stretch of the NH-66 bypass from Mukkola to Karode as a cement concrete pavement.
The decision to depart from the conventional bitumen road is on account of the new set of guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The recent shift in policy has been on the ground that concrete roads are cost-effective and require less maintenance, when compared to bitumen roads.
Official sources said it was decided to implement the new policy for the 16.5-km stretch since the road had to be developed right from the scratch, unlike the initial stretch of the bypass from Kazhakuttam to Mukkola, wherein the existing road is being widened.
As opposed to the composition of bitumen roads, a concrete pavement will have two layers, viz., paving quality concrete (PQC) and dry lean concrete (DLC) over the sub-grade, which is the foundation of the road, and the granular sub-base. While the top layer of PQC will have a thickness of nearly 25 cm, the DLC will be around 15 cm thick, according to sources. The developed carriageway will have a thickness of 105 cm.
Better option
Concrete pavement will be a better option in areas that witness heavy rain. Besides, this type of pavement is more durable, with an average surface life of 25 years, much higher than the durability (15 years) of asphalt roads. On the flip side, the surface of concrete roads is rougher than tarred surfaces. The wear and tear of vehicle tyres will also be more due to greater friction. Land acquisition for the second reach is nearing completion. Over 90 per cent of the 1,769 land owners have been provided with compensation for the ceded land. Land is being acquired at a cost of around Rs.460 crore. The preliminary cost of the second phase of the project is estimated to be Rs.804.97 crore.
