Gujarat to build cement, concrete roads in cities and towns in long-term push to end monsoon road damage
Gandhinagar, July 28
In a major long-term infrastructure decision aimed at addressing the recurring problem of road damage during the monsoon, the Gujarat Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has decided that internal roads in all Municipal Corporations and Municipalities across the state will henceforth be constructed using Cement Concrete instead of asphalt.
Announcing the Cabinet decision, Government Spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani said the move is intended to provide durable, high-quality roads that can withstand heavy rainfall and waterlogging, which frequently damage asphalt roads and inconvenience citizens.
The minister said that besides urban areas, asphalt roads in village settlements that are prone to waterlogging will also be gradually converted into CC roads.
Construction of CC roads in villages is already underway under the Suvidhapath Yojana. In addition, the use of CC roads will be expanded in industrial areas with heavy and extra-heavy vehicular traffic, wherever required, a release said.
Vaghani noted that while the construction cost of CC roads is generally 30 to 40 per cent higher than that of asphalt roads, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has chosen to prioritise long-term public benefit over immediate cost considerations.
"The Chief Minister has taken this people-centric decision without worrying about the additional expenditure, ensuring that citizens receive durable, high-quality infrastructure that will serve them for years," he said.
Advantages of Cement Concrete (CC) Roads are they are significantly stronger and have a longer service life than asphalt roads. They are better suited for continuous movement of heavy, overloaded and multi-axle vehicles, and they require minimal maintenance and repairs, reducing long-term expenditure on road upkeep.
Cement Concrete (CC) Roads virtually eliminate recurring issues such as potholes and damaged road surfaces and perform effectively in areas receiving heavy rainfall and locations prone to waterlogging.
The decision will strengthen road infrastructure across both urban and rural areas, providing citizens with safer, more durable roads and reducing recurring maintenance costs over the long term.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Sounds good on paper, but will the state budget actually sustain this? Asphalt roads are cheaper to build, and with 30-40% higher cost for CC roads, municipalities might cut corners or delay projects. Also, CC roads take longer to set, which could cause traffic chaos during construction. Let's see the execution.
Finally, a government that thinks long-term! My village road in Kutch gets waterlogged every monsoon, and we have to wade through mud for weeks. The Suvidhapath Yojana is already helping, and expanding CC roads to villages is a game-changer. Kudos to CM Bhupendra Patel for prioritising public convenience over politics. 👏
As an infrastructure engineer, I can vouch that CC roads are far more durable for heavy traffic and high rainfall areas. But a word of caution: proper drainage is critical. If water gets under the concrete base, it still fails. The government must ensure that the entire road design, including sub-base and drainage, is done right. Otherwise, this could be a costly experiment.
I love the intent, but what about noise pollution? CC roads are louder than asphalt ones, especially for areas with heavy traffic near residential zones. Also, in extreme heat, concrete can buckle or crack if not properly jointed. I hope these technical details are considered. Still, I'm happy to see the state trying to solve the monsoon road problem. 🤞
Good decision, but I have a concern: will this delay the much-awaited road repairs in smaller towns?
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.