Policy in works to extend lifespan of National Highways
policy to allow strengthening of ageing national highways through 'white-topping' to increase their lifespan.
The focus will be to rehabilitate flexible, or asphalt, pavement which constitutes the most important and largest component of the ageing national highway network. The ministry of road transport and highways has sought comments on a draft policy that lays down the technique, its benefits and the selection criteria for identification of national highways to be rehabilitated.
India currently has a national highway network of about 146,000 kilometres. «As India is building more and more two-, four- and six-lane national highways and expressways, the quantum of aged assets is increasing which warrants rehabilitation to extend its life further,» a senior government official told ET.
Though there are several techniques and treatments available to strengthen flexible pavement, India has opted for the thin white-topping technique, the official said. In white topping, a concrete overlay is constructed on the top of an existing in-service bituminous pavement. In thin white topping, the thickness of the concrete is 100-200 mm. The technique is extensively deployed in developed nations but is yet to be taken up on a big scale in India.
According to the official, this is expected to extend the lifespan of the pavement by 20-25 years, has lower life-cycle costs when compared with bituminous overlay, is durable and requires much less disruption during the process.
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