KOCHI: With the rains wreaking havoc on the city roads, experts say that the only option before the authorities to ensure durable roads is to adopt white-topping technology.
Overlaying cement concrete on an existing bituminous pavement, commonly known as ‘White topping’, will enhance the load-carrying capacity of the existing pavement. The Public Works Department (PWD) has already initiated work on the five-km stretch from HMT Junction to the Medical College under the white-topping method.
“Considering the geographical conditions of the Kochi city, the most suitable method for laying roads is cement surfacing. They are cost effective, environment-friendly and durable. Otherwise known as water ceiling, white topping will prevent the deterioration of roads during the monsoon and will also increase the load carrying capacity. The vehicular traffic of the city has increased considerably and at present, the roads are not capable to bear the volume of traffic,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning Committee chairman K J Sohan. He said that while the life span of ordinary bitumen roads is 5-10 years, the life of white-topping concrete surfaces is around 20 to 25 years and requires minimum maintenance cost.
“It also ensures faster moving traffic owing to improved ride quality and skid resistance. There are normally four types of white topping like thick, super thick, thin and ultra thin. The most suitable type among the four can be selected considering various factors including existing asphalt thickness, volume of vehicular traffic, base and pavement conditions,” he added.
Various roads have been completed with the help of white topping technology in India. Pune was the first city to have white topping roads and later, roads in New Delhi, Ghaziabad, Mumbai, and Thane were done using this method.
All projects have shown good to excellent performance so far indicating that this method is very much suitable to the Indian climate and traffic conditions.
However, Sohan said that in areas where the utility cables are passing underneath the roads, laying interlock bricks will also be a feasible idea. “But the blocks used should be thick and well laid. It can be removed and re-arranged if there are any repair works,” he added.