A Tale Of Sub-Standard Work
During the period from 2017-19, a massive amount of Rs 50.73 crore was spent on recarpeting various roads in the city. A similar budget of Rs 32 crore is lined up for 2019-20. On the other hand, the bumpy roads of the city are a sight of poor raw material, sub-standard work, and lack of monitoring.
Chandigarh Newsline Survey
As reported in The Indian Express, Chandigarh Newsline visited roads which were recarpeted in the last three months, along with a former Punjab chief engineer. They discovered the following:
- These roads had eroded within a month, but were supposed to last for at least five years.
- At some places, an excessive use of gravel and pebbles led to porosity.
- At some other, fine aggregate (sand or crushed stone which can pass through a fine sieve) was more, leading to pits.
- Proper mixing, scratching and leveling had not been carried out.
- Appropriate camber (a tilt built into a road at a bend, enabling vehicles to maintain speed) was also not provided for.
| THE LEVEL of the roads is becoming uneven due to the application of a thick layer of bitumen. NITTTR engineers say that a 30-mm layer is sufficient. EXPERTS SAY an annual tar or emulsion spray can make up for the loss of bitumen content. This may have been caused due to environmental factors. Regular spraying costs a fraction of recarpeting. Also, it can extend the life of a road to eight or ten years. ANTI-STRIPPING chemicals are not made of use. They can help in reducing potholes. KERBS AND CHANNELS are not provided. Therefore, waterlogging takes place. PERIODIC MAINTENANCE not carried out. |
What led to road quality deterioration?
- Recarpeting
Roads have never been this bad. But the MC’s decision to undertake the work of recarpeting has come underway the pre-monsoon showers. Water being the biggest enemy of freshly laid bitumen does not allow raw materials to bind. According to experts, carrying out road repair in rain amounts to wasting public money.
- Privatisation
Earlier, recarpeted roads underwent a third-party inspection by the Department of Civil Engineering of Punjab Engineering College (PEC) or the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR), Sector 26. Two years ago, the task of giving a quality control certificate was given to the private sector. As per sources deterioration began when inspection of road works was given to them
News Source: The Indian Express
Image Source: Google Images