Potholes to be past, courtesy Roller Compacted Concrete roads by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has now decided to experiment with Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) roads in the city. Although the cost of road construction may seem higher, it is expected to be economical in the long run because of the durability of concrete roads compared to normal tar roads.

The civic body has decided to build RCC roads on a total of 20-km stretch at different areas of the city such as Pirana landfill site in the south zone, Sindhu Bhavan road and Varahi Chowk to Nirnaynagar in the new west zone and Naroda GIDC road in the north zone.

According to the chairman of the AMC’s standing committee, Bhupendra Patel, the work order for the road at Pirana Landfill Site has already been issued and the work will begin soon. He also said that tenders for the rest of the stretches are in the process of approval.

AMC has selected the roads where major utilities have been installed and there will be no need for setting up utility services in future. While the civic body is building a four-lane RCC road, it will use paver blocks on the sides so that utilities can be installed without digging up the road further.

The civic body has also decided to use pipe cuts at every 50 metre distance so as to simplify installation of any utility in future.

“We have taken precautions so that the roads are not damaged for installation or maintenance of utility services,” said Patel.

The concrete roads will cost 2.5 to 3 times more as compared to the expenses incurred on building tar roads in the city. However, RCC roads may be a more economic way in the long run because of its longevity.

While talking about the decision to turn to RCC roads, Patel said: “Tar road needs to be built again after five years and it washes away during monsoon. On the other hand, RCC road will last for 20 years and does not get damaged during the rains.”