Infrastructure

The current specifications and guidelines for the selection and use of different types of modified binders such as polymer modified bitumen and crumb rubber modified bitumen are inadequate. Prof Prithvi Singh Kandhal, Associate Director Emeritus of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), Auburn University, Alabama, USA argues that there is an immediate need to revise government policies by deleting the common specification table for all types of polymers and modifiers so that substandard PMB is not used in India. He also writes very interestingly on the journey of various types of bitumen

US-based Allison Transmission, the largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium and heavy duty commercial vehicles and hybrid propulsion system for city buses, has begun production of the Allison 1000 and 2000 transmissions at its Chennai plant. For the last two years the Chennai plant has been manufacturing high-precision vehicular drive train components, while it also has served as ...

While the various nodal agencies – MMRDA, MSRDC and MCGM – responsible to keep the metropolis on the move have tried their best (in varying and debatable proficiencies) to do exactly that – keep Mumbai moving – by undertaking and commissioning various new projects, the city’s travel woes haven’t eased much. But then, its commuting habits seem set to change now. In fact, they have changed to quite an extent. Only, the city bursting at its seams does not appear to be displaying these changes with the needed fervor. A look by Vidyottama Sharma at some of the projects that changed our daily travelling habits and those that are set to do so in the near future.

Ashok Datar, Chairman, Mumbai Environmental Social Network was in China recently to study its traffic rules and travel behaviour. Here, he compares Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shen Zhen with Mumbai and observes that we have a lot to learn from these three cities. When we think of congested cities, we think of Indian cities. It is a general perception in ...

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, launched in 2000 to provide all-weather road connectivity in rural areas of the country, has got a big boost in Gujarat. GPS was used in the state to prepare a GIS database for implementing the Yojana in all its districts. Rajmohan Kurup gives a step-by-step account of how the database for roads was created.

Road infrastructure is not a very positive terminology in India. Basically, because good roads can be counted on fingers, sick roads rarely get treated and new roads take a long time to conceive. How dismal is the picture? And what is the possibility of recovery? Vidyottama Sharma tries to find the answers.

Three experts from the Indian Institute of Science write in detail on the technologies, innovations, studies and the practices that need to be followed in the field of pavement engineering in India. They opine that sustainability is the way to achieve environment-friendly results.

By April 2013, Sikkim will have its first airport in the mountainous town of Pakyong. A Greenfield project, the airport will be situated at 5577 feet and at 80.38 metres, will be home to one of the tallest reinforced walls of the world. Vidyottama Sharma reports.

If the Union Ministry of railways accepts a proposal by Rajya Sabha MP Javed Akhtar and noted architect and civic activist P K Das, the sloping roofs of railway stations could give way to modern and user-friendly lounges, better planned access & exit points and a well laid out conveniences area

Owing to the constant degeneration of urban conditions and decaying of life in urban areas, particularly in the city of Mumbai, many groups in the city have been trying to infuse more dignity and quality into the lives of people. These include several citizens’ movements, NGOs, organisations and neighbourhood committees. Their efforts and energy are the positive aspects in an ...