MAPUSA
While questions have been raised about the quality of the concrete roads constructed along the Nation Highway (NH66), the State government has said that the rectification and maintenance of the roads will continue till the defect liability period and the contractor was bound to repair the road to ensure smooth traffic riding quality.
PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral acknowledged that cracks have appeared on several stretches of the concrete roads along the NH66 but assured that necessary action is being taken to repair these roads.
“Substantial work on the ongoing construction of roads along the NH66 has been completed. Rectification, repairs and maintenance of the roads will continue till defect liability period to ensure smooth traffic riding quality and to enhance traffic safety,” Cabral said.
The PWD Minister was responding in a written reply to the concerns raised by Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira on the substandard work of the National Highway.
Cabral further informed that the construction of roads was carried out as per Indian Roads Congress (IRC) code and the quality checks were carried out as per the standards.
“Numerous inspections are carried out by the authority’s engineers appointed by MORTH to check the quality control and other aspects of construction which consists of routine inspection and compliances,” he said.
He admitted that cracks have appeared on several stretches of the concrete road along the NH and attributed it to shrinkage and temperature variations.
He further informed that wherever there was a problem, the officials promptly attended to the issue.
“Rigid Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) does have micro and macro cracks due to shrinkage and temperature variations which are within permissible limits. Micro cracks are attended by crack and joint resealing with flexible sealant, crack sealing with epoxy resin and partial depth repairs while the macro cracks which propagate through outline depth of PQC, the entire concrete is demolished and the entire panel is replaced,” Cabral said.
Besides questioning the quality of the ongoing construction of concrete roads, the Aldona MLA had also raised the issue of cracks on roads along the Goa Velha, Bambolim and Guirim stretch of the NH66 in North Goa.
