New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to unveil a new policy aimed at rehabilitating worn-out national highways impacted by climate factors and heavy vehicular load.
As part of the initiative to enhance India’s 146,145-km national highway network, the adoption of whitetopping technology is being explored. Whitetopping involves overlaying deteriorated bitumen roads with a shallow concrete mix to increase durability, extending their lifespan by over 20 years without frequent repairs.
Potholes and cracks on Indian roads, including major highways, are a common sight due to poor construction quality and maintenance practices. This leads to traffic disruptions, delays, and accidents during extreme weather conditions.
The life cycle cost of whitetopping technology is significantly lower compared to traditional bituminous resurfacing methods.
The draft policy, ‘Use of Whitetopping Technology for Rehabilitation/Strengthening of National Highways’, has been released for stakeholder feedback and is slated for finalization later this year.
Whitetopping will be prioritized for highway sections facing de-notification as national highways, where one-time improvements will be made before the handover to state governments. Additionally, stretches not targeted for lane addition within the next 20 years will undergo whitetopping repairs.
Exploring Whitetopping
Prioritization of whitetopping will also address areas where bitumen repairs have failed due to heavy traffic loads, extreme temperatures, and rainfall.
Whitetopping refers to applying a concrete overlay on existing bituminous pavements, enhancing longevity by 20-25 years. This cost-effective solution is ideal for regions with high rainfall and offers improved heat absorption capabilities.
“With a growing network of national highways and expressways, the need for rehabilitating aging assets is paramount. Whitetopping is now being considered as a standard technique to extend the lifespan of flexible pavements,” stated the source.
Queries directed to MoRTH are yet to be addressed.
The new policy is anticipated to enhance the value of highway assets by ensuring better road quality and reduced maintenance requirements. Through the national monetization pipeline, MoRTH aims to monetize core assets worth ₹1.6 trillion by financial year 2025.
Additionally, the policy will emphasize adherence to global best practices and guidelines established by the Indian Roads Congress for design and construction standards.
