Unsealed surfaced roads for rural development in India

This article examines the benefits of using unsealed-surface roads in rural areas in India. Roads connecting rural settlements provide social and economic benefit and a major rural road development programme has been instituted. However, it is not seen as economic to provide a bituminous pavement as a sealed surface unless high-volume traffic is expected, when pavement design can create an effective unsealed road surface. The two important design parameters are sub-grade strength and expected traffic load. The traffic is best judged in terms of standard axles. Suitable materials include locally sourced gravels, gravel/soil aggregate and additives of other materials, graded according to recent specifications. Maintenance depends on accurate grading of materials, drainage and road shape.