Bangalore: Oscar asks IRC to build maintenance-free roads

October 25, 2013

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From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore

Bangalore : Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes has asked the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) to work towards providing maintenance-free roads in the country by utilizing the Rs 2500 crore funds earmarked for maintenance to be utilised for construction of new roads.

Roads across the country, including in the constituencies of senior ministers like the Union Home, Finance and himself were in pathetic shape, he said.

“When technology (for maintenance-free roads) is available, why should it not be implemented,” the Minister asked the road engineers at a regional workshop jointly organised by IRC and Karnataka Public Works Department here on Thursday.

Fernandes said the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has not been able to take up state highways which are recommended by the State Government due to the land acquisition problems.

The State government has asked the NHAI to take up several state highways (4300 km), including Bangalore-Mysore, for upgradation and maintenance.

He said the NHAI would be ready to take up road up-gradation of state Highways to national highways if there opportunities for further widening of roads and land acquisition. There was no provision for the land acquisition in many state highways.

Difficulties in the acquisition of forest lands have also come in the ways for taking over of state highways by NHAI.

“If the State government sort-out land acquisition problems, we are ready to take up upgradation of road projects,” Fernandes said.

Due to land acquisition problems and road safety issues, upgradation of a national highway connecting Kozhikode in Kerala with Kollegal in Karnataka via Mysore has been delayed.

The State government requested to Centre to take up upgradation of 212 km of road at a cost of Rs 518 crore. But no one firm has come forward to take up the project, he said.

Source-http://www.daijiworld.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized

One comment on “Bangalore: Oscar asks IRC to build maintenance-free roads” Post your comment

a k jain on October 29th, 2013 10:24 am

It is very essential that maintenance free roads like concrete roads should be constructed in a tropical country like India. The Mumbai Pune Expressway construted about 13 years back is giving maintenance free service. The Hon’ble Minister is perfectly right is telling that all highway engineers should work for construction of such roads for sustainability, cost effectiveness, convenience and fuel saving considerations.