DHAKA: Embarrassment became a regular problem in Bangladesh for dilapidated roads. Every year government spends more than hundreds of crore Taka to repair roads and highways.

Following the situation, Roads and Highway Department (RHD) is moving towards a durable system, which would be concrete roads.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has already asked the authorities concerned to construct all roads with concrete gradually.

Specialist said that concrete roads are expensive but comparatively it will be long-lasting as Bitumen-made road needs repair every year. 

Concrete pavement is a rigid structure and bitumen is a flexible structure. It is the major difference between concrete and bitumen road surfaces, according to a aticle of lehighnw.com

The concrete slab itself supplies a major portion of a rigid structural capacity. Flexible surface, built with bitumen, does not spread loads as well as concrete.

One of the most well known advantages of concrete is its superior durability and longer structural life, the report added.

Besides, cerement factories of the country will be flourished by supplying cements and the sector will be strengthened.

RHD sources said that the department used 80-20 grade bitumen in roads which easily became damaged due to rain.

Heavy rainfall is regular matter in Bangladesh as per its geographic position. Besides, floods and water logging is common scenario. So the RHD thinks that there is no alternative of concrete roads.

Syed Shahidun Nabi, Superintending Engineer of HRD (Planning and Maintenance), told banglanews that rain water is the main culprit of 80-20 grade bitumen and rainwater uncovered the bricks-stones of roads easily.

60-70 grade bitumen would be better for our roads but Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) does not produce that type of bitumen.

Additional Chief Engineer (Planning and Maintenance) Bipul Chandra Saha said, “According to the directions of Prime Minister we are going to start concrete made roads. Already we started the construction to make concrete roads in the Bazars of Dhaka and Chittagong.

According to a article of lehighnw.com, the United States already recognizes the benefits of a concrete infrastructure and has incorporated concrete pavement into over 30% of its interstate highways,

BDST: 1110 HRS, AUG 30, 2014