To use white-topping tech for rehab of highways connecting or passing through estates
PANAJI
The Goa Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has decided to take up Rs 100 crore infrastructure works covering all industrial estates.
As directed by the Centre, the Corporation will adopt white-topping technology for the rehabilitation of highways connecting or passing through the industrial estate, thereby extending the life of the road by 25 years.
IDC on Tuesday held its board meeting under the chairmanship of Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho. The meeting decided to take up various works like that of setting up of solid waste management facilities, sewerage plants, and effluent treatment plants, across all industrial estates.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, IDC chairman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said that the following directions from the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the corporation has decided to make use of white-topping technology for refurbishment of the highways connecting or passing through the industrial estates.
He explained that White-topping technology allows roads to be resurfaced with a concrete overlay over the existing road, extending the life of the road by another 20 to 25 years.
Lourenco said that the concrete-topped roads require lower maintenance, saving costs, even though the cost of implementing the technology is much higher than that of conventional methods.
“The roads will have longer maintenance…the life of the road will be extended to 25 years. We want to make sure that our roads are best with zero accidents,” he said.
The Chairman said that for the very first time the Corporation has taken up over Rs 100 crore infrastructure works in the industrial estate. He said that the work will mostly focus on not only providing good quality roads but also facilities that will take care of garbage and other effluents.
He said that the detailed project reports are ready and tenders would be issued shortly. “Most of the work will be completed by March. The balance works would be taken up after monsoon,” he said.
The State has got a total of 24 industrial estates.
