Concrete pavements are environment friendly and sustainable in all aspects of design, construction, operation and maintenance. Pavements constructed with concrete offer significant advantage when compared to bituminous pavements. Concrete roads are the most durable, safe and cost efficient. It requires minimum or nil maintenance for 25-30 years and often outlives their design lives and can last up to 50 years. Urban roads including rural highways built with concrete offer 10-15 % less in vehicle running costs when compared to bituminous roads. Concrete pavements are lighter in colour and have increased reflectivity, improve night time visibility, reduce power needed to illuminate roads at night and help mitigate urban heat island and smog generation. Concrete pavements are 100% recyclable, making it environment friendly. They are also safe as it provides long term traction and short stopping distances for vehicles even in wet weather conditions. Concrete roads are also comfortable as they are now being constructed with smooth finishes and hence quiet like any other pavement type. Concrete roads provide excellent value for money with lower life cycle cost. Concrete pavements exhibit a lower energy footprint associated with their production, delivery and maintenance than bituminous pavements and hence are environmentally and economically sustainable. Results of studies conducted points out that concrete pavements are best suited for a country like India with extreme weather conditions and harsh usage. Mumbai’s Marine Drive is a testimony for the durability and resilience of concrete roads. Even after over seventy years of its construction, it withstood the vagaries of weather and usage. The objective of the workshop is to create an awareness about environmentally and economically sustainable concrete pavements and concrete overlays (white topping) and the need for more kilometres of concrete pavements in India, highlight the advantages of concrete pavements /overlays over bituminous pavements, enrich knowledge on materials and equipments and construction methodology required for making good concrete pavements etc. and how to overcome the limitations in concrete pavements construction and maintenance.
ABOUT INDIAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE
Indian Concrete Institute is the premier organisation for Concrete technologists not only in India but also all over the world. It has in its fold captains of construction industry, cement manufacturers, leading consultants & civil engineers , constructors , academicians and educational institutes. It was founded in 1982 and has celebrated its Silver Jubilee last year. ICI has more than 9000 members attached to 28 centers spread all over and across the country. It also has 13 Student Chapters with around 1000 members. The major objectives of the institute are: spread of good construction technology amongst the practicing engineers & organisations, conduct Conferences, workshops, seminars and training programs periodically. ICI has international collaborations with Asian concrete federation, Singapore.
