JOIN USRoads wearing out fast will be a thing of the past as jute and coir will be used as raw materials, along with sand, gravel and cement in the construction of roads in the State.
This method of road construction, which is in vogue in Kolkata, will be adopted for 32 roads in the districts of Kolar, Tumkur, Haveri, Belgaum, Bidar, Shimoga and Mysore this year at a cost of Rs 40 crore.
The road will have a one-inch thick base layer of sand. Above this is laid a jute sheet. This is then topped by another layer of sand of one inch thickness.
It is then strengthened by two layers of metalling of 3.5 inch thickness. Ramesh, executive engineer of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, told Deccan Herald that the California bearing ratio (CBR), a measure of the soil strength, is increased by adopting the new technology. While the CBR of black soil is two, that of red soil is eight. One layer of jute sheet increases the CBR of the soil by a three points.
Normal roads wear out fast soon after rains. But roads constructed using this technology helps them last longer. Ramesh said officials of the Central jute and coir boards will inspect the quality of roads constructed.
He said the contractors have to maintain the roads for five years. Maintenance for a further period of 15 years will help them last that much longer.
Three roads
Three roads are being constructed using this method in Harapanahalli taluk of the district.
The jute and coir boards have been requisitioned to supply 29,950 square metres of jute sheets for the purpose. The work will be taken up at Honnapura, V Koracharahatti and Nandibevur thandas at a cost of Rs four crore as soon as the jute consignment arrives from Kolkata and the work will be accomplished in a year, Ramesh said.