Tripura Highway Cracks: NHIDCL Seeks Expert Help to address pavement distress on NH-208 after heavy rains.
A newly constructed 12 km stretch of National Highway 208 (NH-208) in Tripura has developed significant cracks and pavement distress following heavy rainfall in August 2024. The affected section lies between Kamalpur and Khowai, part of a 25.6 km stretch completed in April 2023.
Tripura Highway Cracks: NHIDCL Seeks Expert Help has called upon experts from the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) to investigate the damage. The CRRI team is expected to arrive within two weeks to assess the situation.
According to officials, preliminary assessments suggest that the failure originated in the subgrade layer due to elevated groundwater levels, leading to saturation of the subgrade soil and a subsequent loss of shear strength and load-bearing capacity.
Despite the damage, officials maintain that the original construction met all quality standards, adhering to Indian Roads Congress guidelines and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways specifications.
Repair work is already underway, with the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor mobilizing workforce and equipment over the past two months. The rectification process includes removing and replacing soil from the embankment to depths of 1-2 meters and installing drainage barriers to prevent moisture buildup.
The repair work is estimated to take approximately two more months to complete. The CRRI investigation will determine the exact cause of the premature road failure.
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