Highway planning and scope of highway engineering

Introduction

Transportation contributes to the economic, industrial, social and cultural development of any country.
Transportation is important for the economic development of any region since every commodity produced whether it is food, clothing, industrial products or medician needs transport at every stage from stage from production to distribution.

Modes of transportation

Scope of the Highway Engineering

Roads are generally constructed on small embankment, slightly above the general ground level, in order to avoid the difficult drainage and maintenance problems.
Such roads are therefore termed as highway and the science and technology dealing with roads are generally called highway engineering.
Highway engineering deals with various phase like.

Jayakar Committee, 1927

Road development should be made a national interest since the local govt do not have financial and technical capacity for road development.
Levy extra tax on petrol from road users to create the road development fund.
To establish a semi-official technical institution to pool technical knowledge, sharing of ideas and to act as an advisory body.
To create a national level institution to carry research, development works and consultation.

Indian Roads Congress, 1934

To provide national forum for regular pooling of experience and ideas on matters related to construction and maintenance of highways.
To recommend standard specifications.
To provide a platform for expression of professional opinion on matters relating to roads and road transport.

Ministry of road transport & highways

Planning development and maintenance of National Highways in the country.
Extends technical and financial support to state governments for the development of state roads and the roads of inter-state connectivity and economic importance.
Evolves standard specifications for roads and bridges in the country.

Highway planning and development in India

Rural road development in India

Rural roads contribute significantly to increase the agriculture production and employment opportunities along with promoting access to economic and social services.
Thus, rural connectivity is a key component of rural development in India.
Rural roads are the most important life line for the people residing in rural areas.
Only about 60% of the Indian villages are connected by roads.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

The government of India have launched PMGSY in year 2000 with the objective of providing road connectivity to all villages having population more than 1000 persons by the year 2003.
The PMGSY covers only ODR and VR.
Primary focus will be on providing to unconnected villages and habitations in districts through good quality all-weather roads.
Surface roads (black topped or cement roads).

Bharat Nirman

It is a time business plan adopted so as to provide rural infrastructure during year 2005-2009.
The aim of this project was to provide proper and suitable connectivity to all the habitations having population of 100 and above, including 500 and above in hilly areas.
Under this length of about 1,46,185km was proposed to be constructed.

Road Patterns

CONCRETE CIVIL