Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Rajesh Munat said, “For integrated development of Chhattisgarh, road as well as infrastructural development is necessary. Realising the fact, remarkable work is being done for construction of buildings, roads and bridges across the State since the year 2000”.
He was speaking at a workshop titled ‘Training Programme on Concrete and Flexible Pavement’ jointly organised by Chhattisgarh Government and Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) on Monday here.
The workshop was organised to apprise officials of the department and construction agencies about technical aspects of the construction works and new techniques developed by CRRI.
Meanwhile, the Minister also recommended utilisation of modern technology for construction work.
According to Munat, before formation of Chhattisgarh, around 27515 lane kms roads were existing in the State which had increased to 34286 lane kms now. About 3300 kms ‘single-lane’ roads have been transformed to double-lane while 180 kms double-lane roads to four lane. Moreover, during the formation Chhattisgarh as many as 178 big bridges were existing which had increases to 918 now.
Meanwhile, the Minister also instructed officials concerned for hosting training programmes for PWD officials at frequent intervals.
On the occasion, Principal Secretary (PWD) Amitabh Jain, Secretary ,PWD, Anil Rai, Principal Engineer D K Pradhan and officials from CRRI were present.
Notably, the PWD has decided to check the quality of the roads constructed through a Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) machine.
The machine’s work was demonstrated before the PWD Minister Rajesh Munat in a month back this year in Raipur.
Highlighting the relevance of the machine, officials had informed that the breadth and depth of the road can be measured by the machine in three categories. The vehicle connected to the machine will be used as mobile laboratory.
Munat had directed the officials to computerize all the Hot Mix Plants and connect their servers with the Office of the Public Works Department and the Chief Engineer’s Office.
The Minister further instructed the officers to conduct a workshop at the departmental level to explain the functioning of the GPR.
Quite recently, the Minister had also issued a directive that a 10-member team of Department officials be formed for understanding the process of preparing roads made out of unused materials left from road construction.
He was addressing the officials after a presentation was made by ‘Road Building International Grade -81’ on construction of high quality and low cost roads at the New Circuit House here.
Munat had directed officials to present the report on ways to utilise the unused material for road construction within a month to him.
The Minister stated that usage of unused road construction material would save time and reduce the cost involved with constructing roads.
He said that the maximum cost of construction of roads comes from purchase of materials involved in road construction with higher time required to construct roads.
Director of Road Building International Grade -81, Shivramji Kotapalli said that the unused road construction material such as tar, mixed gravel, murrum can be used for making quality roads at lower cost using state-of-art machines.
Notably, Union Minister for Roads, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari had made announcement in January this year during his visit to Chhattisgarh that the Central Government would carry out construction of roads and bridges in the left Wing Extremism (lWE) areas on Mission mode with precast and other advance technologies with assistance from Military Engineering Services (MES) and DRDO in Bastar.
He had stated said that local contractors would also be engaged for construction of roads and other development works in violence-hit pockets.