The Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan informed the Rajya Sabha today that the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) has conducted some performance studies using 3% natural rubber and 97% conventional bitumen for construction of some roads in the State of Delhi and on sea port to airport road in Kerala. The studies were sponsored by Rubber Board, Ministry of Commerce. However, no such studies have been conducted in respect of the National Highways.
It has been decided in the Ministry that the type of pavement to be adopted for National Highways projects should be determined on the basis of durability and life cycle cost. However, considering the issues related to environment, saving of natural resources, longer service life, fuel consumption, resistance to extreme weather conditions and maintenance etc the Ministry has decided that cement concrete pavement could be the default mode of construction on National Highways.
It has been decided in the Ministry that the type of pavement to be adopted for National Highways projects should be determined on the basis of durability and life cycle cost. However, considering the issues related to environment, saving of natural resources, longer service life, fuel consumption, resistance to extreme weather conditions and maintenance etc the Ministry has decided that cement concrete pavement could be the default mode of construction on National Highways.
