Kerala   

‘Better road design must’

KASARAGOD: Outdated technology and design being used by the Kerala Public Works Department in road laying and the absence of authentic research to determine minimum specifications for the purpose are leading to quick breakdown of the PWD roads.

Sources in the PWD said that the Kerala PWD Code and Manual, which lays down guidelines for the construction of roads, was drafted around 40 years ago and the guidelines did not often conform to specifications approved by the Centre and published by the Indian Roads Congress for construction of modern roads.

Kerala Government Contractors Association State president Varghese Kannampally noted that the Chipping Carpet method being followed by the PWD for limiting the cost of construction did not have the strength to withstand monsoon and often disintegrated quickly.

He pointed out that breadth of new roads and the thickness of bituminous concrete to be laid on the carriageway should be fixed only after considering the current traffic density and the projected traffic density expressed in passenger car units and the load factor being expressed in million standard axles (msa). But no such effort to fix standards had taken place in the State, he remarked.

He demanded that modern technologies like Bitumen Macadam and Asphalt Concrete (BM & AC) needed to be used and special designs should be drawn up based on the needs of the road while laying roads.

Mr. Kannampally pointed out that while the Indian Roads Congress fixed thickness of bituminous concrete at 40 mm for traffic of 50 msa and 50 mm for traffic of 100 msa. No such yardsticks were prescribed in the State.

While the construction cost of national highways and roads being built under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) ranged from Rs.50 lakh to Rs.1 crore a kilometre, the PWD roads were being constructed at a cost of around Rs.10 lakh per kilometre.

Mr. Kannampally pointed out such low estimates were not sufficient to build quality roads and unrealistic rates meant a compromise on quality. Moreover, the Government itself was insisting only for a short guarantee period for roads in the State.

He noted that if road construction were to become a serious matter the estimates should be sufficiently high and modern technology should be used.

Moreover, funds should be released to contractors on time, he said. He also demanded strong action against the corrupt.

Mr. Kannampally demanded that a high-level road commission be appointed for finalising a suitable technology and design for the construction and maintenance of all-weather roads.

A training academy on the lines of the National Academy of Construction in Andhra Pradesh should be established to familiarise contractors, engineers and associated personnel with modern technology and equipment to be used in road construction, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Land deal: Cabinet to discuss panel view
The march of the clouds
Jute art
Bright Days for Boutiques
Chennithala blames Benoy
SPCS to clear dues
Buffer zone for Silent Valley
Gained in translation
‘Better road design must’
Wildlife poster contest for students
Police to get tough with erring bus drivers Law & order
Well-armed
One-time loan settlement offer
Without greasepaint
On Education Act
Floral tribute
Parishad debate
Devotional exercise
Rustic charm
Always a step ahead
Foreign tourist arrivals up
Panniar: plea for probe by Dam Safety Organisation
Concerted effort needed to promote organic farming Peoplespeak
Next issue
Buffer zone ready for Silent Valley
Unwarranted action
Silent Valley’s buffer comes with a catch
Army expert teams for Panniar
Agri Export Zones yet to take off

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu