Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 18: The Union Government is planning to make all National Highways of the country cement concrete roads, Central Director General of Road Transport SM Das said here Sunday.
Das who was here to attend the five -day Indian Roads Congress said the initiative would give a boost to the cement industry, improve transportation system and low maintenance. He said though the cost of construction of cement concrete road was around four to five per cent more than the bitumen topped roads but it would require less maintenance.
Das said the life of the cement concrete road is more than 30 years against 15 years life of black top roads. IRC President Sunil Bhowmik said said during the session experts from the country and abroad would deliberate how to use new technology,innovation and material for construction of roads.
Experts would discuss how to blend plastic waste, industrial waste and slag with bitumen for the construction of roads. Das said emphasis was being given this time on road safety, over loading and accident hazards and on Prime Minister Sadak Yojana.
He said the government had given a number of suggestion on the construction of PMSY roads by using local materials and the Union government had accepted many of these suggestions. IRC Steering Committee Chairman N K Pradhan said Orissa was hosting the Congress for the fourth time this year. Earlier the IRC was held in the state in 1982,1994 and 2005. Around 4,000 experts from the country and abroad including civil infrastructure professionals, membes of the IRC, bridge engineering experts will discuss about the emergent technologies.
Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik are scheduled to address the inaugural and plenary session of the IRC Monday.
Elaborate arrangement has been made for the success of the IRC.Roads in the capital city were spruced up for the occasion.
