Latest news with #GlassGridRapid
News18
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- News18
Cracks No More? Chennai-Bengaluru Highway To Get A High-Tech Glass Bead Makeover
Last Updated: Two locations—Eraivankadu in Vellore (1.2 km stretch) and Kannigapuram near Ambur (2 km stretch)—have been selected for the trial. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a trial on the Chennai–Bengaluru Highway (NH-44), using a glass bead layer to treat cracks on the road. This move is aimed at enhancing the durability of the 148-km stretch between Walajah toll gate (Ranipet) and Krishnagiri and to reduce accidents caused by potholes and waterlogging. What Is the Glass Bead Layer? As per The Hindu, the new tech, called Glass Grid Rapid, was developed by IIT Madras. It involves laying a 1-metre-wide strip of glass beads on cracked portions of the road. This layer, which is only 0.25 mm thick, is covered with 40 mm of fresh bitumen to create a stronger, more flexible surface. Where Is the Trial Happening? Two trial spots have been identified: Eraivankadu village in Vellore (1.2 km) and Kannigapuram near Ambur in Tirupattur (2 km). The project is nearly complete and will be monitored for 1–2 years before being introduced to other stretches. Why Does It Matter? Traditionally, fixing cracked highways meant completely milling and relaying the bitumen—a costly and labour-heavy task. The glass bead method, however, acts like glue between layers and prevents future cracks. Along with the new tech, the NHAI has also: Additionally, safety measures are being boosted by increasing the height of retaining walls on elevated corridors from two to five feet. What's Next? If the trial proves successful, we could soon see glass bead tech rolled out across India's major highways. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
NHAI tests ‘glass grid' technology to prevent cracks on Chennai-Bengaluru highway
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commenced a trial using glass beads layer on identified cracks on the carriageway of Chennai - Bengaluru Highway (NH-44) between Walajah toll gate in Ranipet and Krishnagiri to ensure durability of the stretch and to prevent accidents on the route. NHAI officials said that, at present, the highway between Krishnagiri and Walajapet (Ranipet district), a distance of 148 km, is maintained by Larsen &Toubro on behalf of NHAI on a 30-year agreement, signed over a decade ago, for maintenance. As per norms, the complete makeover of the entire stretch should be done only once every decade. Regular maintenance, including patchwork, should be done every six months on the stretch. 'The trial of using glass beads layer is taken up as the complete re-lay of the entire stretch between Walajah and Krishnagiri has been done. Performance of the new glass beads layer will be observed for 1-2 years before adapting it to other key stretches,' a NHAI official told The Hindu. Referred to as 'Glass Grid Rapid' technology, technically designed by IIT-M for NHAI, the glass bead roll is a lengthy layer that contains small particles of glass beads. Each glass bead layer measures one metre wide and 0.25 mm in height. The roll of glass beads is laid on identified cracked portions of the carriageway like plaster. On top of it, a fresh coat of bitumen, with a depth of 40 mm, is laid. As part of the trial, two spots, such as Eraivankadu village in Vellore and Kannigapuram village near Ambur in Tirupattur on the stretch, have been taken up for the glass bead layer work. At Eraivankadu, 1.2 km has been laid with a glass bead layer, whereas two km of the stretch in Kannigapuram has the new layer. The work is nearing completion. NHAI officials said that the glass bead layer sticks between two layers of the bitumen on the carriage as a glue. Thus, it helps to prevent any cracks on the surface of the bitumen carriageway. Such prevention of cracks helps to avoid the creation of potholes during monsoon, resulting in waterlogging and accidents. On the other hand, glass bead technology ensures longer shelf life of bitumen stretches on key routes. At present, NHAI officials said that identified cracks on key routes were filled after complete milling of bitumen on the carriageway. It results in huge costs for the State's exchequer and is time-consuming as it needs a large number of labour to remove milled bitumen from the stretch. Currently, NHAI has completely relaid the bitumen of the carriageway to a height of 40mm, replaced damaged steel median, road markings, including pedestrian crossings, and also removed bushes in the space around the median. To ensure the safety of motorists, NHAI is currently increasing the total height of retaining walls on the elevated corridors from two feet to five feet. Each elevated corridor, on an average, is around 800 metres long and 15 metres wide. The stretch has around 50 such corridors including railway level crossings on the route.
