In recent times, innovative technologies and materials are being increasingly implemented in the sector, as companies take initiatives to further the technological penetration. For instance, Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Private Limited (DRAIPL) has adopted technologies such as remote sensing machines, differential global positioning system (GPS), handheld GPS and the discretionary grants information system. The company further pitched these technologies to clients for surveying purposes, the use of which ultimately resulted in the faster preparation of detailed project reports.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has also consistently encouraged all forms of innovation. For instance, a method was introduced where long-span bridges were built using only the fibre of the steel, helping to reduce project costs. NHAI also led the pilot construction of a bitumen and concrete road along the Mumbai-Goa route, demonstrating its commitment towards sustainable construction. All the natural aggregates were substituted during the construction process.
During the construction of the Samruddhi expressway, a 2 km long span comprised of precast components, including piers, pier gaps, and slabs, was assembled on-site. Additionally, the use of ultra-high-strength concrete is also being witnessed.
Recently, Tata Steel Limited successfully delivered a proof-of-concept for NHAI by supplying bent mesh for a drain in a bypass project in Delhi. Approximately 80 per cent of manpower and 30 per cent of the steel were saved during the process. Newer forms of reinforcement solutions are also being adopted. Tata Steel supplied welded wire fabric for continuously reinforced concrete pavement along a 6 km stretch of highway, marking a first in India.
Digital deployments
The Gati Shakti platform is one of the most significant digital adoptions mandated by the government. It is a collaborative initiative that utilises the geographic information system to map each infrastructure project. This includes upcoming sewage projects, water and electrical lines, road bridges and other infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1 billion. Additionally, there is a critical facility that provides data on established forests, maps of reserves and areas where construction is prohibited. This facilitates and simplifies alignment studies for agencies like the NHAI. For instance, Gati Shakti facilitated the execution of projects such as the Pune-Bangalore greenfield expressway by providing information on sewer boundaries, cross-country electrical lines and optical fibre cable network crossings, which ultimately saved time.
Additionally, 5D building information modelling (BIM) technology is being used to plan the stages of construction both before and after project execution. Intelligent traffic management system is also being used in the post-construction stage to gather live traffic data. In addition, automatic toll collection is being carried out using Korean technology. However, there is a lack of collaboration among stakeholders. As a result, the process of transferring data from one location to another lacks transparency.
Obtaining real-time daily progress reports, dealing with vendors and addressing fuel leaks in vehicles are additional obstacles. In order to manage these issues, online portals have been designed and implemented, significantly enhancing project operations.
Ensuring timely execution
The formation of a separate group to handle land acquisition and utility relocation issues has helped achieve timely project execution.
In order to reduce project costs, contractors have shifted to automated rebars. In line with this, Tata Steel has announced plans to commence work on this starting April 2024. The detailing work would be done using the 3D BIM model, following which the company will provide contractors with a bar bending schedule as well as cut and bend solutions.
Internal challenges are usually addressed with the contractor increasing resources such as labour and materials. However, in cases where the project involves the construction of a railway overbridge, constant coordination and liaison among the diverse railway departments are necessary. There is also a need to improve inter-ministerial coordination, especially in the context of road mining. Hence, external issues like these must take precedence, requiring greater attention from contractors.
To ensure timely completion, the NHAI has ensured that land allotment issues are resolved at the time of project awarding, allowing contractors to complete 75-80 per cent of the work up to the third milestone. Meanwhile, the remaining balance of land would be cleared.
Challenges in road construction
Currently, the sector is confronted with significant obstacles related to project funding, regulatory uncertainties, unwarranted delays and the slow uptake of technological intervention. There is also ambiguity in the bidding pattern. For instance, in Maharashtra, no bids below 30 per cent have been received for the past two years. While this may seem favourable for the agencies involved, this has resulted in quality degradation, increased road fatalities and accidents, as well as major and minor structural collapses due to poor construction planning.
Technology adoption necessitates skilled labour. However, trained personnel frequently switch organisations, making their implementation difficult. Moreover, existing personnel are not adequately trained to deploy technologies such as BIM, which are critical for reducing project implementation delays. Thus, one major challenge is the lack of skill development. Despite the launch of flagship programmes such as Bharatmala Pariyojana and Vision 2047, both of which promote road construction, projects still lack a team of supervision consultants.
Another challenge pertains to the unforeseen regulations imposed by authorities such as the National Green Tribunal, compounded by restrictions on borrowed land, prohibited mining, etc. The construction of road infrastructure requires natural resources, as there are no available artificial substitutes to replace them completely. Additionally, the COP28 commitment may pose challenges in the planning, designing and implementation of highway projects. Apart from this, basic challenges like land acquisition and utility shifting issues remain.
Forging the future
The 11 per cent hike in the budget for the transportation sector, along with the approximately 27 per cent increase in allocation for the road sector, is a welcome step. The elimination of the pre-qualification criteria has also resulted in the quicker adoption of technology.
The approved pre-cast policy, under which around 25 per cent of precast concrete components are manufactured off-site and transported to the construction site for assembly, is a positive development. This demonstrates the government’s efforts to enhance construction quality. However, reinforced concrete structures pose a significant challenge in road construction since they require substantial labour, as opposed to the majority of road structures, which are built with machinery. Going forward, this can be circumvented through the application of the ready-to-use, pre-cast solution.
This policy is likely to have a significant impact on road construction due to challenges associated with in-situ casting and limitations in logistics. The role of the designer will be crucial in maximising the potential of the policy, even though it may entail slightly higher costs compared to cast in-situ methods.
With the successful implementation of the hybrid annuity model, the government is considering re-introducing the build, operate, transfer model, which could potentially create new opportunities for the private sector.
Effective collaboration among stakeholders will be crucial in the future to ensure the seamless and timely completion of road projects. Public expectations have increased significantly, necessitating the development of infrastructure that is both resilient and environmentally sound. There is a notable lack of understanding when it comes to the management of logistics in the construction industry. In the future, this should be a key focus area.
Based on a panel discussion among Vinod Giri, Senior Vice-President, Operations, DRAIPL; Prashant Kumar, Head, Downstream Business, TMT Project and Solutions, Tata Steel; Anshumali Srivastava, Chief General Manager, NHAI; and S.K. Survase, Chief Engineer, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation at a recent Indian Infrastructure conference
