CHENNAI: The first Bench of Madras High Court opined that concrete roads would have longer life than bitumen ones, and directed the technical experts of Landtech Engineers Private Limited and director, Highways Research Station, Guindy to be present in court on April 23 to decide the issue of laying bus route roads.
The Bench of Chief Justice SK Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh issued the directive on Thursday while passing further interim orders on a suo motu taken up PIL on the basis of a news report in an English daily.
Commenting on the status report filed by the Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai, the Bench observed that the affidavit now filed seemed to suggest a U-turn by the private firm Landtech Engineers who claimed to have immense experience in designing roads but decided to lay bitumen roads instead.
Better technology would extend the life of bitumen roads up to 10 years but it could not be disputed that the life of concrete roads was much more. Hence, "we consider it appropriate to have the presence of the technical experts of Landtech Engineers as well as the director, Highways Research Station in court and explain the position to us," the Bench said and adjourned the matter till April 23.