Bitumen is a black, oily and viscous material that is a naturally occurring organic by-product of decomposed organic materials. It is a common binder that is mixed with and glued together aggregates to make asphalt and its primary use is found in road construction. However, due to the growing concern that these bitumen roads are getting damaged at regular intervals and more specifically at water logging points where stagnant water tends to pile, the Greater Hydrabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has now proposed to lay concrete blocks in these areas as a means to counteract this damage.
The corporation has proposed to lay concrete paver blocks at approximately 45 water stagnation points, explains GHMC commissioner B Janardhan Ready. “We have found that bitumen roads are getting damaged at water stagnation points as it gets loosened leading to road damages and making the roads unmotorable. Hence, we have decided to replace BT roads with concrete paver blocks”.
It is said that as compared to rigid concrete paving or flexible asphalt paving, interlocking segmental paving is a more durable, alternate method. That is, concrete blocks have durability and wearing resistance and are unaffected by rains – unlike their asphalt/bitumen-based counterparts.
Furthermore, GHMC has proposed to lay pavements with a mix of loose concrete as well so that they are able to cut and replace it easily if work is needed on the underground utility cables and pipelines. The roads will then be laid in a sloping manner so that rains can enter stormwater drains which will, in turn, stave off flooding during the rainy season.
