Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad B.Tech III TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING Previous Question Paper (September - 2021 - R18)

Road development in India is currently driven by several ambitious government initiatives aimed at enhancing connectivity, reducing logistics costs, and promoting economic growth. The primary framework for these developments is the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which integrates multi-modal connectivity across various ministries.

Key road development plans include:

• Bharatmala Pariyojana: This is the largest ongoing highway project, focusing on optimizing the efficiency of freight and passenger movement. It emphasizes the development of economic corridors, inter-corridors, feeder routes, and the construction of bridges and flyovers to eliminate bottlenecks.
• National Highways Development Project (NHDP): While now largely subsumed under Bharatmala, it established the foundation for the Golden Quadrilateral (connecting the four metros) and the North-South and East-West corridors.
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): This scheme focuses on rural connectivity, ensuring that all-weather road access is provided to unconnected habitations, which is vital for agricultural development and rural socio-economic integration.
• Expressway Development: India is rapidly expanding its network of access-controlled expressways, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Samruddhi Mahamarg, designed for high-speed travel and reduced transit times between major industrial hubs.
• Setu Bharatam Project: This initiative aims to make all National Highways free of railway level crossings by constructing bridges and underpasses to improve safety and traffic flow.
• Green Highways Policy: A sustainable approach to road development that mandates the plantation of trees along national highways to mitigate environmental impact and control pollution.

These plans collectively shift the focus from mere road construction to the creation of an integrated, intelligent, and sustainable transport network that supports India's vision of becoming a global logistics hub.

Highway planning involves a systematic collection of data to ensure the proposed network is efficient, safe, and economical. The surveys required are categorized into the following stages:

1. Map Study: This is the preliminary office work involving the collection of existing topographical maps, geological maps, and soil maps of the area. It helps in identifying potential alignments, major obstacles like rivers or hills, and existing transport links.
2. Reconnaissance Survey: This is a rapid field inspection of the area to verify the findings of the map study. It involves identifying feasible routes, assessing general topography, drainage conditions, and land use patterns. It helps eliminate unsuitable alignments and narrows down the options for detailed study.
3. Preliminary Survey: This involves a more detailed instrumental survey of the selected alignments. It includes conducting a detailed topographical survey (using leveling and theodolite), soil investigation, and hydrological studies. The primary objective is to estimate the cost of construction and finalize the best alignment.
4. Final Location and Detailed Survey: Once the alignment is finalized, this survey is conducted to stake out the centerline on the ground. It involves precise measurements, fixing benchmarks, and preparing detailed working drawings, cross-sections, and longitudinal profiles required for construction.
5. Traffic and Economic Surveys: These are essential for planning the capacity and justification of the project. Traffic surveys involve volume counts, origin-destination studies, and speed-delay studies to determine current and future traffic demand. Economic surveys analyze the cost-benefit ratio, considering vehicle operating costs, travel time savings, and regional development potential.
6. Soil and Material Surveys: These surveys determine the suitability of the subgrade soil and the availability of construction materials like aggregates, bitumen, and cement in the vicinity. This is crucial for pavement design and reducing transportation costs of materials.