Roads with German technology get quality approval

With two lab reports being positive about the success of two roads laid using German technology in the city, the GHMC may go ahead with the same technology to lay other roads too.

The Geotechnical Engineering Division of the NIT’s Civil Engineering wing in Warangal, and another private lab in the city had tested the blocks taken out of the two roads laid using ‘Full Depth Recycling’ (FDR) technology, and confirmed the road strength.

For the first time ever, the technology, involving milling of the existing road and mixing it with specially ordered chemical compound and cement, was experimented on NTR Marg. Though it caused dust in the first few days, a coating of BT over it settled the dust and provided comfortable ride for commuters.

The second road using the technology was laid at Moula Ali by the same agency, which had offered to lay both the roads free of cost.

The samples were tested for their compressive strength and water absorption rate, and on both counts, the samples proved to be better than the standards prescribed by the Indian Road Congress.

With the cost of laying of the roads matching with that of white-topping, the corporation is mulling over calling for global tenders for use of this technology on certain additional stretches.

While white-topping is a time-taking process, the FDR technology is relatively faster. Besides, the process uses the existing material for strengthening of the road, and keeps additional reinforcements to the minimum. Further, the core of the road, once laid, would last a minimum of 15 years, officials said.