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28th May 2024 (11 Topics)

New Road Construction Guidelines

Context

Indian roads and highways often suffer from cracks and sticky surfaces during the summer heat. To address these issues and make highways smoother and safer, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has introduced new guidelines for road construction.

Key-highlights of the Guidelines

  • Temperature and Traffic-Based Materials: The surfacing material for all new road projects will be chosen based on temperature variations and axle load (traffic weight).
  • Bituminous Binders: Different grades of bituminous binders will be specified based on factors such as ambient temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and speed. These binders are crucial in creating a durable and flexible road surface.
  • Climate Considerations: It includes specific mixes for different climatic zones across India to ensure that the road materials used are appropriate for the local environmental conditions.
  • Application: These guidelines will apply to all new road projects. Additionally, the quality of highways will be checked during the re-laying of existing roads.

Fact Box: India’s Road Network

  • India boasts the world's second-largest road network, covering approximately 6.671 million kilometers. Despite national highways constituting just 2% of this network, they carry over 40% of the total traffic.
  • National Highways: 599 highways, spanning 146,145 kilometers (as of December 2023).
  • Classification of Highways: North-South Corridors, East-West Corridors, Golden Quadrilateral, 3-D Highways
  • Key Organizations: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Border Roads Organization (BRO), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL)
  • Government Initiatives: Bharatmala Pariyojana, 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), GIS mapping of all national highways

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