BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has introduced new rapid technology to lay roads in the city. A 500-metre stretch of Old Madras Road has been laid using this new technology for starters.
The BBMP officials plan to pre-fabricate concrete slabs of 20 feet in length and 5 feet in width and lay it on the roads. Vehicles will be able to move on it within 24 hours of the rapid road being laid. The concrete slabs will be brought to the site with the help of a crane, and slabs will be fixed on the road. About 500 metres of road can be laid in an hour.
The BBMP lays roads with white and black topping, but as an experiment, it has come up with new technology to save time and avoid traffic. The white-top road work takes around 26 to 28 days, and there will be more traffic problems in the city. The cost is the same for regular white-topped roads and the new rapid technology. Currently, the BBMP is using CSR funds to build the road, which costs around Rs 17 crore. The project tender was given to Ultra Tech and Innovation Park.
According to the experts, before laying the rapid roads, several measures need to be taken: 1) Before fixing the concrete slabs on the road, one layer of asphalt should be laid; 2) As long as there is polishing value, two-wheelers will not skid on the road; 3) There should be space earmarked for utilities like water, sanitary, OFC and cooking gas lines under the road.
“We are using Rapid Road Technology as an experiment to lay the roads. The cost might be 25 per cent higher than regular white-top roads because the transportation costs for the concrete slabs is higher. Our main goal is to complete the work and provide good roads for the people in the shortest time. We will need to plan more designs in the future”, said BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.