The ministry of road transport and highways has asked engineers of public works departments of all states to use polymer or rubber modified bitumen on national highways and other centrally sponsored schemes.
In June 2002, the ministry had asked all engineers that keeping in view the advantages of polymer or rubber modified bitumen, it may be adopted for surfacing whole length of national highways, subject to availability. The ministry had also asked to use suitable display boards indicating types of polymer/rubber modified bitumen used and date of laying may be placed at the beginning and end of each such stretch. The performance report on the stretch where such modified bitumen has been used should be furnished to the ministry every six months. The ministry issued the circulars in February and July 2003.
In February this year, the ministry said that only a few responses from the implementing agencies like National Highways Authority of India, Border Roads Organization, State public works department, have been received. The ministry has reiterated that directions in the circular issued in June 2002 regarding use of polymer modified bitumen for surfacing the entire length of national highways subject to its availability may be followed by the implementing agencies and performance reports should be submitted to the ministry every six months.
Source:TNN
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