Lok Sabha Question No. 942 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Use of Surface Dressing Technology under PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 942 ANSWERED ON 08/02/2022

## USE OF SURFACE DRESSING TECHNOLOGY UNDER PMGSY

## 942. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any decision to use surface dressing technology instead  of  chipping  carpet  technology  for  construction  of  roads  belonging  to  T4/T5 category  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak  Yojana  (PMGSY),  if  so,  the  rationale behind it;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  such  a  change  will  seriously  deteriorate  the condition of PMGSY roads especially in State like Kerala, where road traffic is more compared to other parts of the country;
- (c) whether the Government has received any requests from State Governments including Kerala for using chipping carpet technology for T4/T5 category PMGSY roads;
- (d) if so, whether the Government intends to change its decision in this regard; and
- (e) the  details  of  roads  sanctioned  for  construction  under  PMGSY  in  Alappzuha Parliament Constituency in State of Kerala?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a) & (b)   Rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) are constructed and maintained as per the technical specifications and  geometric design  standards  given in the Ministry of Rural Development Specifications for Rural Roads, Rural Roads Manual of the  Indian  Roads  Congress  (IRC)  (IRC-SP:20)  and  also,  where  required,  the  Hill  Road Manual  (IRC:SP:48)  and  other  relevant  IRC  Codes  &  Manuals.  As  per  IRC:  SP:72-2015, which is meant for design of low volume rural roads, Surface Dressing (SD) is recommended as  surface  course  for  rural  roads  designed  for  cumulative  Equivalent  Single-Axle  Load (ESAL) repetition up to 3,00,000 (T5) categories. Surface dressing can also be adopted for traffic category up to T9 as per Para 7.3.3 of IRC: SP:72-2015. Surface dressing is suitable for all climatic/ rainfall conditions as per IRC: SP:72-2015.

The  surface dressing is an established  methodology,  which  was  used  by  engineers/ contractors all across India before premix carpet was introduced. During that time, surface dressing was carried out manually. Now, with mechanization, it is much easier and superior to pre-mix carpet. Surface dressing is also more impervious to water seepage in comparison to  Open  Graded  Premix  Carpeting  (OGPC).  Surface  dressing  has  added  advantages  over OGPC in terms of durability, skid resistance, cost-effectiveness, etc. Many research papers published by academia have brought out that the permeability of OGPC and seal coat is much higher  than  that  of  surface  dressing.  Also,  the  IRC  had  published  code  IRC:  110-2005  on surface dressing 'Standard Specifications and Code of Practice for Design and Construction of Surface Dressing'. Detailed Specification is also available in Ministry of Rural Development Specifications for Rural roads published by IRC in 2014. The choice of surface dressing for rural roads in Kerala has been made as per the traffic category of the roads, as specified in IRC code.

(c) & (d)   The Ministry has received requests from different states against adopting surface dressing.  All  the  State  Governments  including  Kerala  have  accordingly  been  advised  to follow the IRC code as the IRC SP 72:2015, which clearly indicates that the surface dressing shall be followed for the roads having traffic T5 and below and even up to T9 category. The decision of the government is as per codes and guidelines.

(e)      The details of roads sanctioned for construction in Alappuzha District of Kerala under PMGSY-I, II and III are given below:-

| Name of intervention   | Sanctioned (Road length in Km)   | Sanctioned (Road length in Km)   | Completed (Road length in Km)   | Completed (Road length in Km)   |
|------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|                        | No. of roads                     | Road length                      | No. of roads                    | Road length                     |
| PMGSY-I                | 70                               | 97.51                            | 67                              | 92.92                           |
| PMGSY-II               | 11                               | 25.12                            | 09                              | 20.10                           |
| PMGSY-III              | 15                               | 66.45                            | 00                              | 00                              |

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