GRAND DESIGNS

Innovative bridges and flyovers are coming up all over the country

- MOLLY R

India has a very ambitious road development programme and the required budgetary support from the government. The Roads & Highway Ministry has been allocated Rs 2.70 lakh crores as part of the budgetary estimates in FY 2023-24. A total of 27 expressways and access-controlled corridors are being developed with a length of about 10,000 km and at a total capital cost of about Rs 408,000 crore.

India’s construction sector holds the distinction of being the second-largest employer in the country, surpassed only by agriculture. It plays a vital role in generating employment opportunities and contributing to the national GDP. Currently, India is experiencing a remarkable construction boom, with the industry making and breaking records, and substantial investments pouring into infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, highways, railways, buildings, and more.

IRC has played an important role in providing guidelines, standards, and manuals as per the best international standards. Presently, all road development works implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and its implementing agencies are being executed as per IRC manuals for 2, 4, and 6-lanings and expressways. These manuals are updated as per the latest international practices and policy guidelines. The new expressway manual was published by IRC in July 2023.

Mega infrastructure projects like flyovers, elevated roads, highways, metros, bridges, tunnels, expressways, etc are redefining how we interact with our surroundings; in fact, infrastructure is intrinsically linked to everyday life and is a defining feature of modern societies.