Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010752500400.htm

New Delhi

Rubber mix use will increase road life

Staff Reporter

To be used now in Bawana Complex

NEW DELHI: The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation will use rubber and bitumen mix to make roads more durable. The Corporation will use this technology in the road improvement project being undertaken in the Bawana Industrial Complex.

DSIIDC Managing Director Manoj Parida said that in Bawana as part of a project to ensure better services and facilities in the industrial estates, a total network of 140 km of road that includes all Master Plan roads as well as the sectoral roads would be strengthened at a cost of Rs.69.75 crore.

He said use of the rubber-bitumen mix would increase the life of the roads by an additional two-three years. “The rubber-mix does not allow the water to seep thus increasing the life of the road,” he explained.

Asked why the roads of Bawana were being strengthened, he said: “Since there was minimal traffic when the Bawana Industrial Estate was developed in 2003, temporary roads were constructed initially. However, keeping in view increased movement of heavy and medium vehicles, we have decided to strengthen the roads.”

The official informed that a Gujarat-based company had been given the contract for development of roads. The company will also maintain them for the next five years.

This move assumes significance as over 16,000 industrial units are expected to move to the Bawana Industrial Estate in the next few years.

Apart from strengthening of roads, sign boards of international standards would be installed in the estate, Mr. Parida said.