Highway Engineering (Chapter-2)

1. Jayakar Committee Recommendations
Jayakar committee submitted its report by the year 1928. The most
important recommendations made by the Committee are:
a) The road development in the country should be considered as a
national interest as this has become beyond the capacity of
provincial Govt. & local bodies.
b) An extra tax should be levied on petrol from the road users to
develop a road development fund called “Central Road Fund”
c) A semi-official technical body should be formed to pool technical
know-how from various parts of the country & to act as an advisory
body on various aspects of roads.
d) A research organisation should be instituted to carry out research &
development work pertaining to roads & to be available for
consulations
Nagpur Road Conference & Plan
In the Second World War saw a rapid growth in road traffic and this
led to the deterioration in the condition of roads. To discuss about
improving the condition of roads, the government convened a
conference of Chief Engineers of provinces at Nagpur in 1943.
There, a long-term road Development plan was displayed for India &
it was known as the NAGPUR PLAN.
Highway Development &
Planning

2. Thus the ‘First 20-year Road Development Plan’ in INDIA was
Finalised for the period 1943-1963 at the “NAGPUR ROAD
CONFERENCE”.
Features of Nagpur Road Plan-
1. In the Nagpur plan, they divided the roads into four classes.
2. They proposed that road length should be increased so as to
provide a density of 16 km per 100 sq.km.
3. A hard, long-lasting crust would be provided for national and
state highways and for major district roads.
4. The committee suggested the development of roads as a star and
grid pattern throughout the country.
5. Within 20 years, the committee designed to construct 2 lakh
km of road throughout the country.
Motor Vehicle Act
 It was formed in 1939.
 To regulate the road traffic in the form of Traffic Laws,
Ordinances & Regulation.
 There Phases primarily covered are Control of Drive, Vehicle
Ownership & Vehicle Operation.
 It was revised on 1988.
Central Road Research Institute
In 1950, CRRI was started at New Delhi. This institute is considered as one
of the National Laboratories of the Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research in India. This institute is mainly involved in-
 Engaged in carrying out Research & Development Projects.

3.  Road Traffic Safety.
 Ground Improvements & Environmental Pollution.
 Design, Construction & Maintenance of Roads & Runways, Traffic &
Transportation Planning of Mega & medium Cities, Management of
Roads in Different Terrains.
Highway Research Board
In October,1973 a HRB has been set up by the Govt. of India on the
recommendations of the I.R.C. Council. This board is a separate
organisation for roads just as the Railway Board in our country.
The objective of IRC Highway Research Board are to:
 To fix the nature & extent of research required
 To correlate research information from various
organization in India & abroad.
 To collect & Correlation services.
 To collect result on research
 To Channelize consultative services
Road Classification as per Nagpur Road
Plan ( NON URBAN ROADS )
The Nagpur Road Plan classified the roads in India based on location &
function into Following Five categories & described below:

4. 1.National Highways (NH)
The main highways running through the length and breadth of the
country connecting major ports, foreign highways, capitals of
states, large industrial and tourist places etc. are known as National
Highway.
2.State Highways (SH)
They are the arterial roads of a state, connecting up with the national
highways of adjacent states, District head quarters & important
Cities Within the State.
Total Length- 1,37,119 Kms, Speed- 80 Km/hr.
3.Major District Road (MDR)
Important roads with in a district serving areas of production &
markets, connecting those with each other or with the major
highways.
Total Length- 4,70,000 Kms, Speed- 60-80 km/hr.
4.Other District Road (ODR)
Serving rural areas of production & providing them with outlet to
market centers or other important road like MDR or SH.
Speed- 50-60 Km/hr.
5.Village Roads (VR)
They are roads connecting villages or group of villages with each
other or to the nearest road of a higher category like ODR or MDR.
Speed- 40-50 Km/hr.