White-topping

BBMP

Ultra-Thin Precast Concrete

The new method will not cost more than the existing method. The same concrete mix that we use on the road will be mixed somewhere else, and fixed when it’s ready to be laid – Lokesh M, Superintendent Engineer, Project Central, BBMP

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Bengaluru Traffic Police

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was hailed as a cure for potholed roads, when it was announced by the Siddaramaiah government in 2016-1 7 with a budget of Rs 986 crore for 94.5 km under Phase-1. Soon it got a bad rep when the delays in waiting for the concrete to set in threw traffic out of gear and inconvenienced commuters and caused traffic snarls.Now there’s something better than white topping, or so the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) tells us. A team of officials fromwill be visiting Nagpur this Saturday to study the efficacy of the(UTPC) white-topping method. If they’re convinced about it, this method of white-topping could be used on Bengaluru roads to make them as smooth as silk and in an instant.An official from BBMP explaining the UTPC method, said, “Currently, the BBMP has been carrying out the conventional method of white topping where 180mm thick concrete mix is applied to an asphalted road, and allowed to dry and set for nearly month. This method is exactly the same as what we witness when a house in constructed and the roof is cast and allowed to cure. But in the UTPC method, one metre-long precast concrete slabs will be placed on the road and then the edges will be attached to each other,” he said.Much like the precast magic boxes which were used to make underpasses, this method will save time and cause less inconvenience to commuters.Speaking to BM, Lokesh M, Superintendent Engineer, Project Central, BBMP said, “The conventional way would take at least one month for the white topping to be completed. This would have led to traffic congestion for months.“But with the UTPC, the white topping will be completed in three to four days. This method is much better and sustainable compared to the existingmethod.” Speaking about the cost involved in the new method, M Lokesh said, “The new method will not cost more than the existing method. The same concrete mix that we use on the road will be mixed somewhere else, and fixed when it’s ready to be laid. So the cost factors will not change. But it will save us a lot of time and reduce inconvenience to people.”The white topping work was sanctioned in 2016-17 by the Siddaramaiah government which earmarked Rs 986 Cr for 94.5 kms of the city roads underPhase-1.In 2017-18, the same government earmarked Rs 709 Cr to take up white topping work along 63 kms of roads in Phase-2.Of the total 157 kms of roads identified for white topping in Phase 1 and 2, the BBMP has been able to complete only parts of 35 kms of roads, which amounts to just 22 per cent.The white topping works by BBMP were sharply criticised by(BTP) because of the slow pace of work, half-finished work, debris left on pavements etc.However, the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa cancelled Phase 3 of the white topping project, for which the BBMP was granted 1,139 Cr for 89 roads.This came after many allegations that funds which were allocated to the project were misused and there were many irregularities in its implementation.Speaking to BM about the features and cost factors of precast concrete method, N Ramesh, Chief Engineer, Project Central said, “The traditional way of white topping costs us Rs10 Cr per kilometre including drains and shifting of utilities. But the cost would vary on wider stretches like Outer Ring Road and roads along high density corridors as they are wider and it takes more time and concrete to fill. But in the UTPC method, the cost will not vary as the slabs will be precast in the same concrete but this method is time-efficient.”Speaking about the time factor involved in preparing concrete slabs, Ramesh said, “According to our estimate, it takes about 15 days for the concrete slabs to be completely ready for use. Even if it takes 30 days, it will not cause a problem. We can have them ready and store them in one place and lay it on the road in one go. This means the roads will be ready with white topping in just two or three days.”Speaking about the Nagpur model, N Ramesh said, “The Nagpur model has fascinated us as that method has proven to be effective in reducing time while keeping the quality high. Nagpur has seen positive results and that has made us interested in this process. We want to implement it here so that we can complete the work quickly and efficiently.”According to BBMP, white topping helps to reduce travel time by at least 10 to 15 minutes and also prevent the surface from developing potholes.White topping came under a lot of criticism because of the time it took to be completed, the inconvenience caused to commuters and the traffic diversions it called for.