From Cracks to Durability: India’s New Road Construction Guidelines Ensuring Durability and Safety
New guidelines to enhance the quality and longevity of India’s road infrastructure have been introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) focusing on using surfacing materials that account for both traffic load and pavement temperature. This new approach aims to reduce issues like roads cracking and turning sticky in the summer heat. The guidelines mandate that all new road projects consider variations in temperature and axle load, rather than just the weight-carrying capacity when selecting materials.
According to Mint Report, the specifications for bituminous binders, essential for road construction, will now be determined based on factors such as traffic load, ambient temperature, rainfall, snowfall, and speed, ensuring roads are more durable and safer with fewer potholes or breakages.
The MoRTH guidelines now account for different mixes suited for specific traffic loads and climatic conditions across India. Therefore, the appropriate bitumen or modified bitumen for different climatic zones, which formed the basis of the new guidelines, recommended by the MoRTH task force formed for this mission.
These guidelines will apply to all new projects for which bids are now being invited. Additionally, the quality of highways will be checked during the re-laying of existing roads, the source added. Daleep Thusu, Senior Vice President and Transportation Expert at Rudrabhishek Enterprises Ltd. noted a shift toward constructing wider roads, from 4 lanes to 6 or 8 lanes, reflecting evolving transportation needs and the push for smoother traffic flow and safety.
The government is focusing not only on new road construction but also on expressways, dedicated elevated corridors, and grade separators to reduce travel time and supply chain costs.
The new guidelines aim to ensure the construction of durable pavements that can withstand heavy traffic volumes across various climatic conditions. It is expected that by executing new guidelines, not only the lifespan of expressways will be improved but also operation and maintenance costs significantly reduced. 10,000-12,000 km of highways are supposed to be constructed or repaired in FY25, all of which must adhere to the new bitumen specifications; as the government plans.
