It’s not the lack of technical knowhow but a severe paucity of funds that prevents the government from embracing modern technology to construct durable roads. Road experts are convinced that the method of road construction by laying bituminous macadam and bituminous concrete being followed by the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) is best suited for the state’s climatic conditions but there are not many takers for this method. The Kazhakkuttam- Chengannur stretch, a portion of the M C Road in South Kerala, and the Alappuzha - Changanasserry, Ettumanur-Pala and Koyilandy- Thamarassery routes stand testimony to the fact that roads built using this technology can withstand heavy rains. “But, we cannot afford the huge budget required to construct roads across the state using this technology within a short period,” said KSTP project director Joseph Mathew. “Construction of a one-kilometre stretch using this technology would cost nearly `5 crore. On the other hand, the cost of constructing one km road using a mixture of road metal and tar would not exceed Rs 50 lakh — in other words, one-tenth of cost,” he added.