Lying roads: An exercise in vain?

Lying roads: An exercise in vain?


Express News ServiceFirst Published : 04 Jul 2009 09:24:14 AM ISTLast Updated : 04 Jul 2009 11:29:48 AM IST
Motorists and traffic experts should be a happy lot for the smooth ride they are enjoying on the city roads, BBMP having taken up asphalting quite seriously.
But quite on the contrary, this has drawn quite a bit of flak from both the traffic experts and certain sections of public, as this is not the right season for asphaltation.
The reason quoted for this is that it is not long lasting. BBMP has undertaken asphalting overnight across the city during the onset of monsoon. According to Prof MN Sreehari, advisor to traffic, transportation and infrastructure, Government of Karnataka, and expert member of ABIDe, asphaltation should not be done in the rainy season.
“It is desirable to go for asphalting pavement or over-laying during summer or winter or at least one month before rain, which gives longer pavement life,” he added.
“If the procedure is followed, asphalting lasts for at least three years.
Unfortunately there is no planning by the Palike and this is the root cause for wearing out of asphaltation in early stages, potholes, rutting, cracks and other pavement failures,” the expert added.
Sreehari said that if asphalting is done during monsoon, bitumen gets stripped from the aggregate in the presence of water.
Is the Palike really concerned about the motorists and a smooth ride for them or is it to woo voters as BBMP elections are nearing? He also said that the reflective thermoplastic road markings done on these new roads during monsoon too wouldn’t long last. Sreehari lamented that it is a sheer waste of taxpayers money by the civic body.
“The strength of asphalting will come down if the temperature is less and importantly bituminous concrete macadam used for mixing is expensive and it will go to waste,” an official source said.