A technology visit to Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was yesterday conducted by the State Rural Roads Development Agency and the PWD to four road sites within East Khasi Hills district.
About 25 engineers, technology providers and contractors took part in the visits at LPL road to Mawpynthih, Mawkhar to Maweitnai, L028 to Mawkynring and Laitlyngkot to Laitmawroh.
The team was led by B P Marak, Chief Engineer (Standard), PWD (Roads) and Empowered Officer, SRRDA.
Three of the roads were built with cold mix emulsion technology, which utilises emulsion instead of hotmix bitumen, thereby eliminating bitumen and the need for heating bitumen.
A statement from the government today said that one of the roads, L028 to Mawkynring, has adopted the use of nanotechnology in road construction. This involves the addition of chemical additives to sub-grade and to bitumen, which both acts as water-resistant layers, as well as increasing the functional strength of the pavement, thereby ensuring the road pavements’ durability and sustainability. This helps in preventing the depletion of natural resources and results in cost savings both in the short and long term.
The visit was as part of the ongoing India@75 celebrations whereby states implementing the PMGSY are instructed by the Ministry of Rural Development to organise activities by organising the technology visit to PMGSY road sites that have implemented green technology in road construction.
The purpose of these visits is for dissemination of information, knowledge sharing and mainstream adoption in other areas.
The visit to the four road sites concluded with an interactive and knowledge-sharing seminar at the PWD Sectional Assistant Training Centre, Laitlyngkot.
