August 28, 2024 10:50 PM
The whitetopping technique involves applying a concrete overlay over the existing bituminous pavement.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to implement a new policy for repairing existing sections of national highways using 'White Topping Technique'. The ministry has sought feedback from stakeholders on the proposed policy titled 'Repair/Strengthening of National Highways using White Topping Technique' by September 7.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will implement a new policy to repair existing sections of national highways using 'white topping' technique (Sanchit Khanna/HT)
“India currently has a national highway network spanning around 146,000 km. Though an increasing number of two, four and six-lane national highways and expressways are being constructed, an increasing number of assets are becoming dilapidated and require rehabilitation to further extend their lifespan. Flexible pavements are the most important and largest component of our dilapidated national highway network. There are several rehabilitation/strengthening techniques/treatments for flexible pavements and whitetopping is one of them,” the ministry said in a statement on August 22.
According to official documents from the ministry, whitetopping is being widely used under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Till March 2022, the National Rural Infrastructure Development Authority has approved 4,831 km of roads for whitetopping. Since 2016, BBMP has been introducing the technology on roads under Special Infrastructure Project Grant, focusing on certain roads in Bengaluru.
What is White Topping Technology?
Whitetop is a technology widely adopted by PMGSY that offers improved maintainability, longer service life, lower life cycle costs and improved safety compared to traditional concrete pavements. It is an effective long-term solution to address ongoing maintenance issues on poorly drained roads.
This technique involves laying a Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) overlay over an existing asphalt road. Although the initial cost of whitetopping can be higher than flexible overlay, it has proven to be a cost-effective and economical option over the entire pavement lifecycle.
What are the benefits?
– Whitetopping is a technique in which a concrete overlay is applied over existing asphalt pavement. The ministry says this technique has several benefits, including extending the life of the pavement by 20 to 25 years.
– It also reduces the frequency of lane closures over the design life, resulting in lower life cycle costs compared to asphalt overlays. Additionally, this technology provides a durable wear layer suitable for areas with high rainfall. Concrete's light color enhances light reflection and reduces heat absorption, helping to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
– Laying a whitetop over an existing asphalt pavement offers many advantages over traditional asphalt overlay alternatives. Some of the advantages include:
White topping offers longer life, lower maintenance, lower life cycle cost and environmental benefits compared to asphalt overlay. Asphalt overlays lose their life span faster with each additional overlay. White topping prevents deformation problems such as rutting and cracking that are common in asphalt pavements especially in hot climates. When laid on a hard base, it improves the structural capacity of the existing asphalt pavement and reduces structural damage. It requires less maintenance and fewer road closures compared to asphalt surfaces. It is relevant to the Indian context and cost effective in managing budget constraints and high traffic situations. As concrete remains hard and stable even at high temperatures, it effectively fills ruts in asphalt pavements. Vehicles consume less fuel on concrete roads than on asphalt roads. News / India News / Central Government plans to use “White Topping Technology” to eliminate potholes in roads. What is it?
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