APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES FOR RURAL ROAD DEVELOPMENT

In the context of the extensive rural road development programmes in India, the importance of evolving appropriate technologies cannot be over-emhasised. Any in-depth study of the problem of developing appropriate technologies would, however, require an analysis of a wide range of data, covering a variety of influencing factors. Recognising the lack of availability of such data, the Central Road Research Institute undertook extensive studies on 285 sections of 175 rural roads spread over nine States of the country. Comprehensive data on the performance of these roads constructed on different subgrade soil types, pavement thicknesses and composition, under varying intensities and type of traffic etc. was colleted. Based on a rigorous analysis of the field and laboratory data collected from these studies, appropriate technologies were evolved and are set forth in this Paper. These technologies include: categorising rural roads based on minimum acceptable serviceability levels; incorporating solid-wheeled cart traffic in the form of "Traffic Index" for design purposes; developing a simple and workable "Strength Index" for evaluating subgrade strength; design curves for two categories of rural roads based on traffic and strength indices developed low-cost and labour intensive construction techniques; realistic short-term and long-term maintenance practices; development of animal-drawn road roller and water bowser for rural road construction works etc. (Author)