More recycled plastic for road construction in Kol
Times of India | 8 March 2025
12 Kolkata: Mayor Firhad Hakim wants the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) roads department to take up the restoration of roads using recycled plastics as one of the ingredients to ensure a smooth ride. Hakim on Friday conceded that he experienced a roller coaster drive on stretches of several city roads, which took a toll on his health.
On Friday, Hakim received a call from a resident of Biren Roy Road (West) in Behala during the interactive session, ‘Talk to the Mayor,' who complained of a dug-up and uneven road that needs urgent attention. Hakim gave a patient hearing and then gave a piece of his mind to the senior roads department officials present at the meeting. "We need to ensure citizens have a smooth ride. I have experienced roller coaster drives often," said Hakim.
He asked the civic body's solid waste management department officials to ensure that plastic granules were supplied to the roads department from the plant at Dhapa uninterrupted so that there was no dearth of the material. After using recycled plastics for paving small lanes and fringe roads under a road restoration scheme, the civic body has taken the same route for major and arterial roads, an official said. Sources in the KMC said the civic bosses decided to repair and relay stretches of DH Road with recycled plastic after a successful pilot project at Bakshibagan in Behala.
"We tested the efficacy of the recycled plastic to weather rain, heat, or cold after a stretch on Bakshibagan Road was re-laid with plastic hot mix. Our primary concern is to stop water seepage. Since plastic is water-resistant, we expect better results and durability," said a KMC official.
In the next phase, KMC will take help of the new paving scheme to relay or repair stretches onChittaranjan Avenue, APC Roy Road, Bidhan Sarani, Bowbazar Street, College Street, Lenin Sarani, among others, an official said. KMC has taken up restoration of all major roads in south Kolkata — Rashbehari Avenue, Gariahat Road, Gurusaday Dutta Road, Motilal Gupta Road — under this scheme.
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