In the future, paver blocks won’t be seen on any major road in the city.
In the future, paver blocks won’t be seen on any major road in the city. As a part of its new draft policy for roads, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to convert all existing paver block roads into asphalt roads.
According to civic officials, the civic body was trying to find out whether city roads can be improved without digging them completely every time. Hence, a new draft policy has been prepared for the construction of roads and it was presented in the standing technical advisory committee (STAC). The changes suggested by the committee have been incorporated in the policy.
The new policy says that in case of major roads or more than 20 feet in width, all existing paver block roads should be converted into asphalt roads in a phasewise manner. The paver blocks should be removed carefully and their foundation should be strengthened with a bituminous overlay that is 90 mm in thickness.
The conditions for major roads say that while carrying out concretisation of existing asphalt and paver block roads, the roads will be relaid completely. On roads where the municipal underground utilities are proposed to be laid or repaired, they too will be relaid completely.
In case of asphalt roads repairs, they should be thoroughly checked where they are pockmarked or damaged due to trench work.
In case of minor roads less than 20 feet wide, paver blocks can be used only on roads in congested slums, where there is no alternate road for traffic movement and no effective management for water drainage and where heavy machinery cannot be used. The defect liability period of these roads will be three years.
“By implementing this policy, the road works will be expedited without any delay and road construction cost would also be reduced,” said a senior civic official.
Traffic expert Ashok Datar welcomed the decision to convert paver block roads into asphalt ones. He said, “The asphalt roads are most ideal for vehicles, but quality should be maintained in their construction. Paver blocks have their own advantages, but they have been cancelled out due to their indiscriminate use.”
