Gandhinagar, May 24: Gujarat is taking significant steps towards sustainable development by modernizing its road infrastructure. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘speed and scale,’ the state is set to enhance its road network. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced a budget allocation of ₹1,147 crores for the construction of roads using climate-resilient and innovative technologies.
Work will commence on 20 roads across various districts, utilizing green technology. This approach involves recycling existing road materials, which not only reduces costs but also promotes environmentally friendly practices.
The roads slated for improvement include the Lanjwa-Manund-Sander-Balisana Road (Patan), Radhanpur-Mashali-Madhapura Road (Patan), Bhidiya Somnath Road (Gir Somnath), Santarampur-Jhalod Road (Mahisagar), Dayadra-Nabipur-Jhanor Road (Bharuch), Ilav-Kosamba Road (Bharuch), Morbi-Nani Vavadi-Bagthala Road (Morbi), Surendranagar Bypass Road (Surendranagar), Dindoli-Kardwa-Iklera Road (Surat), Mangalesh-Narashwar Road (Vadodara), Kosindra-Bhaka Road (Chhota Udaipur), Karjan-Amod Road (Vadodara), Isarvada-Undel Road (Anand), Valam-Kadi Road (Mehsana), Pepalu-Kapra Road (Mehsana), Luni-Gundala-Patri-Tappar-Babiya Road (Kutch), Vadatal-Jol-Bakarol Road (Anand), Talaja-Gopnath Road (Bhavnagar), Kalavad-Jamvanthli-Falla Road (Jamnagar), and Kothara Approach Road (Narmada).
These roads will undergo various enhancements, including widening, RCC gutter lines, resurfacing, protective work, four-laning, earthworks, rumble strips, road furniture, side shoulders, white topping, and glass grid installations. The focus will be on environmentally friendly and innovative technologies.
The green technology process involves reusing old materials from existing roads. The method includes excavating the road, applying lime, and stabilizing the surface with rollers. The recycled material is then laid down and compacted with a dry rolling technique. After seven days, a non-woven stress-absorbing membrane (SAM) is placed, followed by a layer of asphalt. SAM is a high-tech fiber sheet that prevents cracks from reaching the surface, absorbs vehicle pressure, and extends the road’s lifespan.
This technology reuses materials like soil and metal from old pavements, reducing costs and strengthening the road base. It enhances the durability of the road, minimizing the need for frequent repairs and decreasing carbon emissions while conserving natural resources.
In Bharuch, ₹50 crores have been allocated for the reconstruction of the Jambusar-Tankali-Devla Road using green technology. This road connects the pharmaceutical bulk drug park near Jambusar and serves as a crucial route to the ONGC plant. It also links the salt farming area near Devla and provides vital connectivity for shrimp farming ponds along the coastal region, facilitating direct access to Vadodara district through railways, airports, and expressways. This connectivity is expected to significantly benefit the industrial landscape.
New technologies and designs in road construction include mixing plastic with asphalt for waste plastic roads, laying concrete over old asphalt for white topping, and using polymer and fiberglass grids for enhanced road strength. Cold mix asphalt is effective during monsoon, while cement stabilization creates a robust layer in the road base. Fly ash from thermal power plants is also utilized in road construction.
The implementation of interlocking pavers, panelled concrete, and perpetual pavement designs ensures long-lasting roads with reduced maintenance costs.
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