The Hindu 30.10.2013
15 labs of Corporation to test road quality
The Chennai Corporation will have a quality control
laboratory in each of its 15 zones from Wednesday to help improve the
quality of its construction works, including roads.
The
equipment in the laboratory includes facility for core cutting, sieve
analysis digital thermometer, one-milligram accuracy weighing machine,
identification of pavement quality and camber of roads.
Improving roads
More equipment will be procured to improve quality control of roads in the city, said an official of the Corporation.
The civic body will keep an eye on quality of road re-laying in each of the 15 zones with such facilities in place.
“We
have had discussions with quality control engineers for using improved
technology such as pavement quality indicator to detect faulty road
compaction. Faulty road compaction is one of the primary reasons for
potholes,” said an official of the Corporation.
Compaction
is the process of producing a road surface of maximum stability and
evenness so as to improve skid resistance and increase road safety and
riding comfort, the official said.
Residents will be
able to seek the services of the quality control teams at the
laboratories to find the reason behind damage to their roads.
A
study by the Chennai Corporation found that many bus routes and
interior roads in Chennai have not been compacted to the stipulated
density leading to pothole formation on roads during the monsoon.
A density of 2,230 kg/m for roads will help the stretch last longer, the official said.