The adoption of Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) technology will revolutionize road construction in Kerala as the use of raw raw materials such as aggregate and soil can be reduced by about 70%, while the cost of resurfacing can be reduced by 40%. Could be, said Samson Mathew, director, National Transportation Planning and Research Center (NATPAC).
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a two-day workshop on FDR technology being organized on Thursday and Friday by NATPAC in association with Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) and Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, he said that it This in turn will significantly reduce the carbon footprint apart from increasing the lifetime of the roads. “In this, the road surface is excavated to a depth of 30 cm, after which it is mixed with cement and select chemicals and reconstituted, thereby ensuring a highly durable road. This was done in 2018 apart from a 6-km KIIFB-aided road project at Adoor, among other places.
It is also being implemented by a contracting firm in the construction of three stretches of NH 66. NATPAC is involved in the design of nine of the 30 roads that are being done according to the method, which was also adopted in construction (recycled). of another 300 km of rural roads in the state. Over 3,500 km of roads in Uttar Pradesh were constructed using the FDR method as 100% of the components of existing roads can be reused for their resurfacing, making it sustainable and cost-effective. Using the range of machinery required for the method, more than 300 meters of road can be made per day. It is particularly ideal for roads constructed as per Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode, given its longevity.
Milling, in which the asphalt layer of roads is taken out, recycled, and re-laid, is another method of reducing raw material use. The two methods also help to save energy, reduce the need to transport raw materials, and reduce pollution related to road construction. The money thus saved can be put to alternative use, Mr. Mathew said.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has now approved the schedule of rates of FDR, based on which estimates for road construction can be prepared. There are also guidelines on how to implement the technology. The necessary machinery is now manufactured in India and is also available in Kerala, where proper maintenance of roads is a challenge. He said that the shortage of raw material is emerging as a major problem, hence there is a need to instill confidence in the stakeholders, mainly the contractors.
NATPAC had submitted a proposal to the state government in 2020 on how roads can be regenerated through various methods of recycling.
Inaugurating the two-day workshop, Uma Thomas, MLA, said that it was high time that roads were built by relying on technologies, which helped in saving money and did not destroy natural resources. Adoption of FDR will help in making roads which are more durable than BMBC roads.
Loknath Behera, Managing Director, Kochi Metro Rail Limited, was the chief guest. Experts from across the country including IITs are participating in the workshop.