Rapid Road Technology in Bengaluru: CM Bommai To Decide On Deploying It Across City Based On Learning From First Project At C.V Raman Nagar

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai inspected the trials of Rapid Road Technology at CV Raman Nagar in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating a rapid road constructed on an experimental basis in CV Raman Nagar Assembly Constituency by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, CM Bommai said, "Bengaluru is facing massive traffic jams due to road construction. Our prime goals are cost-effectiveness, quality and efficiency. Will analyse through the trial how helpful this method will be".

"As a permanent solution to the problems faced while constructing white-tapping roads and concrete roads in Bangalore, I inspected the road constructed by CV Raman Nagar using Rapid Road Construction Technology." the CM said.

"Appropriate action will be taken to use this technology elsewhere after checking the quality and rates of rapid roads". "The state government will consider the construction of Rapid roads by using pre-cast technology only after examining its quality and rate", said CM Basavaraj Bommai in the presser.

He further added, "Along with quality, the rates are also very important. A decision will be taken after the receipt of the report in this regard". "BBMP has to face a lot of problems at the time of the construction of roads in Bengaluru. Traffic has to be diverted. Once laid, it is very difficult to break the white-topped roads in case of any problems", Bommai said.

"Under this technology, precast slabs are prepared, put joints, strengthened and then laid", he said explaining the process. He further asserted, As an experiment, a 375 meters long rapid road has been laid out. "I have come here to inspect the same and given several suggestions. We need to continuously run 20-tonne plus vehicles on this road and then analyze it. I have sought a report on the impact on the road due to the movement of heavy vehicles. Ultimately, the work must be completed quickly, with good quality and cost-effectiveness".

Rapid Road Technology

In November, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched what it termed as 'rapid road technology' utilising precast concrete slabs to a white-top a 500-metre stretch at Binnamangala junction, where 100 Feet Road and Old Madras Road meet. 

Under the pilot project, the civic body is embedding prefabricated concrete slabs (20 feet in length and 5 feet in width) on the road . The concretised slabs will be connected by steel cables on either side of the joints using cranes. 

In the current scheme of things, the BBMP takes around 26 to 28 days to white-top a road. This includes milling, levelling, providing bituminous concrete in the addition to the 21 days of curing period. Under the new experimental technology it is deploying, the concrete slabs are brought to the site and placed on the road using cranes.

According to BBMP officials, the new method helps in white-topping half a kilometre of road in a day. The entire project can be completed in five days including one or two days for preparatory work like milling and levelling, before placing the concrete slabs.

While the conventional white topping of 1 km of road typically costs Rs 7.5 crore, under the new method, it is higher at Rs 9.3 crore. The higher cost is is because of transportation of the precast from the plant to the construction site.

 UltraTech Cement is the innovation partner in the project.