Preparing for the monsoon, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is laying a three-km plastic road at Sainikpuri Colony. This is the longest stretch of plastic road in Hyderabad. Earlier a 100-metre stretch was laid connecting Nagole and Uppal metro station on an experimental basis, and a 300-metre stretch was laid at Saidabad in Old City
The price to lay a plastic road is less compared to a BT road and it decreases chances of potholes appearing, according to GHMC officials. "Laying of this road has costed us two per cent less money compared to a regular road. Plastic melts and fills the gaps once the road is laid reducing erosion due to waterlogging," said Dattupanth, executive engineer, Kapra Circle. Plastic roads have more life and strength compared to regular roads, according to GHMC officials. Explaining how such roads are laid, officials said, plastic waste is mixed with bitumen. "Eight per cent of plastic waste is added to the bitumen so that road it strengthened," said Dattupanth.
Experts opine the percentage of bitumen should not be reduced while laying plastic roads, "Total percentage of bitumen should not be less than by 5.5," said Kushan Karan an civil engineering expert.
"The new plastic road has been laid at Sanikpuiri Colony Road No. 1, 2 and 3. The government's move is good, but it needs to lay it on main roads and waterlogged areas," said Rohan Patnayak who uses the Sainikpuri Road frequently.
"Usage of plastic as construction material it one of the best ways to recycle it as plastic does not decomposes easily," said a top GHMC official.