Highway Development & Planning
- 1. Jayakar Committee Recommendations Jayakar committee submitted its report by the year 1928. The most important recommendations made by the Committee are: a) The road development in the country should be considered as a national interest as this has become beyond the capacity of provincial Govt. & local bodies. b) An extra tax should be levied on petrol from the road users to develop a road development fund called “Central Road Fund” c) A semi-official technical body should be formed to pool technical know-how from various parts of the country & to act as an advisory body on various aspects of roads. d) A research organisation should be instituted to carry out research & development work pertaining to roads & to be available for consulations Nagpur Road Conference & Plan In the Second World War saw a rapid growth in road traffic and this led to the deterioration in the condition of roads. To discuss about improving the condition of roads, the government convened a conference of Chief Engineers of provinces at Nagpur in 1943. There, a long-term road Development plan was displayed for India & it was known as the NAGPUR PLAN. Highway Development & Planning
- 2. Thus the ‘First 20-year Road Development Plan’ in INDIA was Finalised for the period 1943-1963 at the “NAGPUR ROAD CONFERENCE”. Features of Nagpur Road Plan- 1. In the Nagpur plan, they divided the roads into four classes. 2. They proposed that road length should be increased so as to provide a density of 16 km per 100 sq.km. 3. A hard, long-lasting crust would be provided for national and state highways and for major district roads. 4. The committee suggested the development of roads as a star and grid pattern throughout the country. 5. Within 20 years, the committee designed to construct 2 lakh km of road throughout the country. Motor Vehicle Act It was formed in 1939. To regulate the road traffic in the form of Traffic Laws, Ordinances & Regulation. There Phases primarily covered are Control of Drive, Vehicle Ownership & Vehicle Operation. It was revised on 1988. Central Road Research Institute In 1950, CRRI was started at New Delhi. This institute is considered as one of the National Laboratories of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research in India. This institute is mainly involved in- Engaged in carrying out Research & Development Projects.
- 3. Road Traffic Safety. Ground Improvements & Environmental Pollution. Design, Construction & Maintenance of Roads & Runways, Traffic & Transportation Planning of Mega & medium Cities, Management of Roads in Different Terrains. Highway Research Board In October,1973 a HRB has been set up by the Govt. of India on the recommendations of the I.R.C. Council. This board is a separate organisation for roads just as the Railway Board in our country. The objective of IRC Highway Research Board are to: To fix the nature & extent of research required To correlate research information from various organization in India & abroad. To collect & Correlation services. To collect result on research To Channelize consultative services Road Classification as per Nagpur Road Plan ( NON URBAN ROADS ) The Nagpur Road Plan classified the roads in India based on location & function into Following Five categories & described below:
- 4. 1.National Highways (NH) The main highways running through the length and breadth of the country connecting major ports, foreign highways, capitals of states, large industrial and tourist places etc. are known as National Highway. 2.State Highways (SH) They are the arterial roads of a state, connecting up with the national highways of adjacent states, District head quarters & important Cities Within the State. Total Length- 1,37,119 Kms, Speed- 80 Km/hr. 3.Major District Road (MDR) Important roads with in a district serving areas of production & markets, connecting those with each other or with the major highways. Total Length- 4,70,000 Kms, Speed- 60-80 km/hr. 4.Other District Road (ODR) Serving rural areas of production & providing them with outlet to market centers or other important road like MDR or SH. Speed- 50-60 Km/hr. 5.Village Roads (VR) They are roads connecting villages or group of villages with each other or to the nearest road of a higher category like ODR or MDR. Speed- 40-50 Km/hr.