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As on 31st March 2021, estimates the total road length in India 6,603,293km (4,103,096 mi) making the Indian road network, the second largest road network in the world after the united states. But the roads are not giving the desired result due to poor CBR value. Roads in India have mostly the problems like the formation of potholes, ruts, cracks and localized depression and settlement, especially during rainy season. These are mainly due to the insufficient bearing capacity of the sub grade in water saturated condition. The sub grade soil mostly yields low CBR value 2- 5%. In the CBR method of pavement design (IRC:37-2012) the total thickness of pavement increases exponentially with a decrease in the CBR value of sub grade soil which in turn increases the cost of construction. So, it has been tried to use the geo grid material for increasing the bearing capacity of the sub grade. Laboratory and simulated field CBR tests are conducted on soil samples with and without the inclusion of geo grid layer and also by varying the position of it in the mould. Use of geo grid increases the CBR value of the sub grade and thereby reduces the pavement thickness considerably up to 40%. This study will have a positive impact on cost as it will reduce the Project as well as maintenance cost of the road. Our project will discuss in detail the process and its successful applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a regulatory framework adopted since 1994 in India to evaluate the impact and mitigation measures of projects, however, even after 25 years of adoption, EIAs continue to be of inferior quality with respect to biodiversity documentation and assessment of impacts and their mitigation measures. This questions the credibility of the exercise, as deficient EIAs are habitually used as a basis for project clearances in ecologically sensitive and irreplaceable regions. The authors reiterate this point by analysing impact assessment documents for three projects: the doubling of the National Highway-4A, doubling of the railwayline from Castlerock to Kulem, and laying of a 400-kV transmission line through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the state of Goa. Two of these projects were recently granted 'Wildlife Clearance' during a virtual meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) without a thorough assessment of the project impacts. Assessment reports for the road and railway expansion were found to be deficient on multiple fronts regarding biodiversity assessment and projected impacts, whereas no impact assessment report was available in the public domain for the 400-kV transmission line project. This paper highlights the biodiversity significance of this protected area complex in the Western Ghats, and highlights the lacunae in biodiversity documentation and inadequacy of mitigation measures in assessment documents for all three diversion projects. The EIA process needs to improve substantially if India is to protect its natural resources and adhere to environmental protection policies and regulations nationally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head injuries sustained in the crash are the main cause of death and disability. Such deaths and disabilities can be prevented by consistent and correct wearing of a quality helmet. A baseline study was conducted to understand the pattern of helmet use in all 7 administrative divisional headquarters of state of Rajasthan in 2015. Among 1,17,553 two wheelers observed, almost two-fifth drivers (39.4%) wore helmet correctly, whereas, less than three-fifth (58.7%) did not. Almost equal percentage of male (58.6%) and female (58.9%) did not wear helmet at all. As compared to drivers, two-wheeler passengers were observed lower in using helmet correctly (11.6%). Even though correct helmet use during the crash reduces the severity of head and neck injury, observed helmet use in Rajasthan was low. Two-pronged strategy needs to be used by Government – First, Increased provision for awareness generation among community for helmet use by drivers and passengers through print media, electronic media, folk media, and social media. Second there must be provision of enforcement of the road traffic law by traffic police of Rajasthan. It would be required that the Government organizations, Corporate groups, and NGOs should come together and start helmet use in mission mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation facilities are the backbone for any economic growth in country's development. However, presently highways are the biggest threat to the world as they account for the largest number of road crashes. As a highway engineer emphasis should be made on reducing the occurrence of road crashes and understanding the causative factors. It is also important to understand the relationships between the severities of a road crash in the context with collision types. Several studies were carried on factors that influence on severity of crashes. The present paper attempts to explore the various factors associated with crash prediction on Indian highway. The study was conducted on National Highway NH-44 in Hyderabad city of Telangana State. Multinomial logit model was used for assessing the variables that influence the crash severity. The model reveals that vehicle type plays a major role in increasing the severity of the crash on highways. The model will be useful for the highway planner while improving the road section reducing the number of crashes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation facilities are the mainstay for any economic progress in country's development. However, presently highways are the biggest hazard to the world as they account for a major number of road accidents. Repetitive crashes at any location on the road are known as blackspots. These can be due to numerous crash causative and geometric factors and is not an arbitrary occurrence. An effort is made to identify these blackspots on NH 44 over a 40 km stretch and audit studies were conducted at the blackspot locations. Audit study is a procedure for evaluating crash prospective, safety performance, rehabilitation of existing pavement, and maintenance of highways. The prime objective of an audit study is to identify the problems of a highway project by conducting the site inspection and collecting data from various agencies. The designer or client then studies the recommendations and a decision is made whether or not to implement the suggested safety amendments. With the aim of decreasing the escalating road accidents, the current study aids in evaluating the black-spot locations on the highway where the major road crashes occur. Accident data for the preceding five years (2011-2015) on NH 44 was collected from a secondary source in terms of time, km range, nature of accidents, road condition, and causes of crash. This data is analysed using accident severity method for identification of black-spot locations. These identified black-spot locations are ranked according to the severity of occurrence. Audit studies were conducted at black-spot locations for accomplishing advanced measures to diminish the causes of road accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public Private Partnership (PPP) offers an innovative framework of accountability in comparison to traditional public sector procurement model. Transparency is one of the four components of the framework. Whereas theoretically PPP calls for restricted transparency, policy makers have recently raised their voices for improved transparency of public infrastructure delivery process throughout the project cycle. But the question arises what transparency is and what does it do? This research offers a framework of transparency to understand the wider concept both in depth and breadth, drawing on the literature of decision-making in mega projects, PPP and understanding of transparency under various theoretical paradigms. Three highway projects from the eastern part of India are examined and conclusions are also based on case study findings, considering the extent they can be framed under various theoretical paradigms under review. Hood and Heald's (2006) framework on categories of transparency based on time and direction of disclosure of information is also used to suggest how altering time and direction of disclosure would have better served the purposes of transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the ever-increasing demand for new cuisines, the catering industry in India is becoming more prominent day by day. According to a recent estimate, more than two million restaurants are now dominating the present scenario of the Indian catering industry. The health hazards in restaurants vary according to the place that a worker is employed. The hazards among kitchen staff include several different types of accidents such as burns from deep fryers, slipping on grease and cuts from knives, whereas musculoskeletal disorders are more common among waiters and helpers who usually bear load. The present cross-sectional study included 127 workers from 15 restaurants and dhabas situated at Pune—Mumbai high way. Interview technique followed by clinical examination was the tool for data collection. Musculoskeletal symptoms such as low back pain, fatigue, body ache and pain in limbs were present in 18 (14.2%) of the workers. Gastrointestinal complaints such as heartburn, abdomen pain, stomatitis, etc. were reported by 12 (9.4%) subjects, while skin-related symptoms, such as itching and discoloration were reported in 12 (9.4%) subjects. Seventy-three (57.5%) of the subjects were free from any symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of the rapid growth of vehicles and the ill effects due to noise pollution, there is a need to study noise pollution from the transportation point of view. In this study, an attempt has been made to study noise pollution due to vehicular traffic in Warangal city, India. It was observed that noise levels are increasing with increased traffic volume. Studies also revealed that 3-wheelers have a major influence on noise levels. It was found that the noise levels at all the locations studied exceeded the Indian standard ambient noise levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]