Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Coir Geo textiles, a permeable fabric, natural, strong, highly durable, resistant to rots, moulds and moisture, free from any microbial attack, has finally been accepted as a good material for rural road construction.
Coir Geo textiles will be used for construction of rural roads under the PMGSY-III, says a communication from the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency under Union Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, according to a PIB release.
Speaking about the development, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of MSME and Road Transport & Highways, who has been behind the move to explore alternative usage of coir fibre, said, “This is a very significant development as we have now been successful in deploying coir geo textile in road construction. The decision will give a big boost to the coir industry especially in these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic.”
As per the PMGSY new technology guidelines for road construction, 15% length in each batch of proposals is to be constructed using new technologies. Out of this, 5% roads are to be constructed using IRC accredited technology. The IRC has now accredited coir Geo textiles for construction of rural roads.
As per these instructions, 5% length of the rural roads under PMGSY-III will be constructed using Coir Geo textiles. Accordingly 164 Km of road will be constructed using coir geo textiles in Andhra Pradesh, 151 km in Gujarat, 71 km in Kerala , 328 km in Maharashtra,470 km in Odisha, 369 km in TN, and 121 km in Telengana.
Thus 1,674 km road will be constructed using Coir Geo textiles in seven states for which there will be a requirement of One Crore Sq. mtrs of coir Geo-textiles, the estimated cost of which would come to Rs 70 crore. The decision opens up a huge market potential for Coir Geo-textiles in the Country and will be a boon to the Covid-19 hit Coir Industry.