Cement, Energy & Environment Jan-Mar 2002

stretch is being improved and maintained by the Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC) and is a joint venture of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TI DCO) and IL & FS. To make concrete roads, like the Mumbai– Pune Highway, the cost is estimated at over Rs.18 crore. However, TNRDC's methodology of developing two-lane roads with shoulder pavements and modern stat~-of-the art safety devices cost just Rs. 50-60 lakh a km. "With Rs. 60 crore, and in 12 months, TNRDC has made a benchmark for road development in India about which the whole country can talk about Tamil Nadu can feel proud of says Rohit Modi, chief executive officer, TNRDC. Courtesy : Cement News Digest, 19-25 jan. 2002. P 16 URL: www. cmaindia. Org Email: cmand @ nda vsnl. net. in CONCRETE ROADS - ECONOMICAL, DURABLE AND DEPENDABLE A. V. Srinivasan and B. Singh Cement Manufachiiers' Association Email: cmand@nda vsnl. net. in During past half century the movement of goods and passenger traffic has witnessed a major shift from railway to roads. Roads now carry 65 per cent and 80 per cent of total goods and passenger traffic respectively and this figure is going up since our railway system is operating at around its peak capacity. The Prime Minister's programme for the Golden Quardrilateral (4/6-lane 6000 km) , East- West and North- South corridors ( 4/6 -lane 7000 km.) has been taken up. This task has been assigned to the National Highway 64 Authority of India. Balance length of NHs and all SHs and other roads are being improved/ developed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the respective State governments. As for funds, besides increasing budgetary allocations, cess has been put on sale of petrol and diesel. In addition, some income is accruing from toll on the roads and bridges. Most of the roads in the country have been constructed with bituminous pavements due to various reasons like amenity to stage construction, quick maintenance, comparatively lower initial cost, convenience of construction, and not taking on building of long continuous stretches at one time. Higher VOC (Vehicle operating cost) is due to vehicles consuming more fuel (up to 14 per cent) and sustaining more damage due to ruts and pothDles on bitumen roads. Studies have shown that a saving of Rs. 20, 000 crore per year is achievable in vehicle operating cost annually on account of fuel saving if even 10, 000 km of National Highways are concreted. The recent execution of con crete highways like NH2 between Ballabhgarh-Mathura: 55 km 2 lane Bombay- Pune Expresswaya: 90 km 6 lane and Indore bypass NH3: 32 km_4 lane have shown that concrete gives better, economical, durable and dependable road stretches compared to those with the flexible pavement. Long term total investment make the concrete roads cheaper by around 30 per cent in life-cycle cost, though their initial cost is more by about 10-15 per cent. This is due to comparatively high maintenance and frequent· strengthening a flexible pavment requires during the life cycle behaviour and performance of the two options. ' .._ .