Requirements of rural development of Roads

  There are 5.76 lakhs villages in India. Of these only about 57% of villages with population about 1500,63.6% villages with population 1000 -1500 and 23% villages with population less than 1000 were connected with all -weather roads by 1980-81.Realising the urgency of the developing roads , these have been treated as a part of minimum needs programme since the fifth five year plan.

  It is Estimated that RS. 11,000 crores (as per 1980 cost estimate) will be needed to provide all weather motor able road net work so than on the average any villages not more than 1.6 km from road.During the sixth five year plan (1980-850 out of he provision of 3439 crores for the road development and maintenance ,RS. 1165 crores was set a part for the rural roads under minimum needs programme.The states are also actively engaged in the development of rural roads.For example, a master plan for rural roads have been prepared for Karnataka State at an cost of Rs. 949 crores.  

Comparative Study of Road Statistics

     The road statistics gives the idea of the stage of road development of a country.The road statistics may be presented on the basis of area of the country or the population.The road network of this country had to be considerably increased during the development plans.The poor road development in India in he past may due to the following reasons:

* There was no planned development of roads in India up to initiation of  Nagpur  Road Plan in the Tear 1943.Only during five year plans since 1951, he development works were speeded up.

* the investment even today on the road development programme is much lower than the revenue from the road transport.

Poor Economic conditions of the vast majority of the population in villages prohibit the owing of private vehicles and discourage the use of transport.


      There has been a noteworthy progress in road development in India during the post-Independent period,especially since the start of first five year plan in the year 1951.The total road length by the year 1951 was only 3,97,600 km, whereas the road length achieved by 1981 was 15,02,700 km. The density of roads in km per 100 sq.km area of the country by the year 1951 was about 12 which increased to 21 by the year 1961,34 by 1972 and 46 by 1981. The Road density values of some of he developed and developing countries by the year 1981 are given in table 1.1 for comparsion.

      Table 1.1 Road Density Values In Different Countries by the year 1981 

Scope of Highway Engineering

scope:

   The road pavements are generally constructed on small embankments,slightly above the general ground level wherever possible ,in order to avoid difficult drainage and maintenance problems.
The term road or railway thus constructed is therefore termed 'highway' and science and technology dealing with Road Engineering is generally called  'Highway Engineering'.

   In the fore going paragraphs,the need the status of road transportation have been discussed.It is therefore logical to discuss the science of highway engineering which answer the questions as how highways are planned and designed and how they constructed and maintained. Answers to each of these questions contribute to the development of the subject.

   In nutshell,it may be said that the highway engineering deals with various phase like development,planning,alignment,highway geometric design and location, highway traffic operation and its control,materials,pavement design,construction and maintenance,economic considerations,finance and administration.


 Many other special aspect which are not included in the general layout are related to problems of development and construction of hill-roadside development including landscaping road architecture and arboriculture.

 Development,Planning                                           Historical background; Basis for Planning;                and Locations                                                         Master plan;Engineering Surveys and
                                                                                 highway alignment.

Highway Design,                                                     Road Geometrics and theirs Design;Rigid and
Geometrics & structure                                            Flexible Pavements;Design factors and                                                                                                    Thickness  design; Overlay design;Design of                                                                                            design system                                            

Traffic Performance                                                Traffic Studies analysis; Need for new road links;
and its Control                                                         Traffic regulation and Control;Intersection design
                                                                                 and their controls with signs,islands and markings.
                                 
Materials,Construction                                           Highway Materials and mix design;Highway
and Maintenance                                                    construction;Earth Work;construction of different
                                                                               Earthen,soil stabilized  ,W.B.M, Bituminous                                                                                            Surfaces;C.C.Roads;Pavement Failure:Pavement
                                                                               Evaluation Maintenance of pavements evaluation
                                                                               Maintenance of pavements and drainage system.

Economic,Finance                                                Road user and cost and economic analysis of
and Administration                                               highway projects;pavement types and maintenance
                                                                             measures;Highway Finance and phasing of                                                                                              Expenditure;Administration.