No.P-13021/1/2008/Tech.

National Rural Roads Development Agency

Ministry of Rural Development
Government of India
#5th Floor, 15 NBCC Tower,
Bhikaji Cama Place New Delhi 110066.
Date: 17-04-2009.
TECHNICAL CIRCULAR
Subject: Additional Guidelines for Design of Flexible Pavements for Low
Volume Rural Roads - Design Catalogue of IRC SP:72 2007.
IRC SP:72-2007 Guidelines for Design of Flexible Pavements for Low
Volume Rural Roads issued by Indian Roads Congress (IRC) is adopted for
design of flexible pavements under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
(PMGSY). Many States represented that under PMGSY, the bitumen sealed
roads are being constructed presently, however; provisions of unsealed gravel
surface in the above publication are leading to problems of community
acceptability. After due examination in NRRDA, surfacing options were
proposed to Rural Roads Committee (H-5) of IRC and as per minutes of the
first meeting of the Committee, held on 28th January, 2009, the following
additional guidelines for use of provisions of IRC SP-72: 2007 are hereby
prescribed under PMGSY.
As per IRC SP- 72 :2007, Guidelines for the Design of Flexible
Pavements for Low Volume Roads, 12 out of 35 cases given in Design
Catalogue do not qualify to have bituminous surface and the gravel surface is
expected to serve as wearing course. This would require frequent re-grading
and re-gravelling and create dust nuisance. In order to provide road surfaces to
be water and dust proof and also to have good riding quality, not warranting
frequent intervention of re-gravelling in medium and high rainfall areas, the
following alternatives may be provided to get sealed roads to meet the
community expectations.
Crushed Rock Macadam (CRM) with two coat surface dressing or Water
Bound Macadam (WBM) with PMC and Seal Coat/ 2 Coat Surfacing Dressing
can be provided for 75 mm thickness replacing equal thickness of Gravel Base
(having CBR of 80% as per IRC SP 72: 2007 Design Catalogue).
The above addition to the guidelines is applicable with immediate effect.
(B. P. Chandrasekhar)
Director (Technical)