12.4 ROAD PROJECTS A. Necessity When the question of constructing a new road arises due to public demand or some strategic reason, a primary investigation is carried out to examine whether this road is necessary. The following points are to be kept in mind at the time of such investigation: 1. Total population benefited by the project, 2. Number of villages, towns, industrial places, etc. to be connected, 3. Agricultural products, industrial products, minerals, etc. are likely to be conveyed through the proposed road and thus help the development of trade in the country, 4. Prospect of tourism, if any, 5. Strategic importance for the defence of the country, and 6. Any other information related to the project should be noted. B. Marking the Tentative Alignment After primary investigation regarding the justification of constructing a new road, the tentative alignment or alignments are marked on the general map and contour‘map of the area through which it is expected to pass. While marking the tentative alignment, the following points should be considered: 1, The proposed road should connect a sufficient number of villages, towns, industrial places, places of religious importance, ete 2. The alignment should be taken in such a way that unnecessary cutting and banking can be avoided 3. If the alignment crosses a river, it should do so perpendicularly through the shortest width of the river. 4. The alignment should not pass through religious places like temples, churches, mosques, ete, or bunal grounds, buming ghats, and s0 on. ‘5. The alignment should not be taken completely through valuable agricultural land 6. The alignment should not pass through the heart of villages, towns, etc, where the compensation payable is likely to be more 7. Any other obstacles or problems should be considered during reconnai survey, C. Reconnaissance Survey (Reconnoitre) Before starting the actual survey work, a reconnaissance survey is conducted along the tentative alignments to select the most suitable alignment. The following points should be noted during reconnaissance: 1. The magnetic bearings of the lines of alignment are measured by prismatic ‘compass and noted in a field book. 2. The distances along the alignment are measured approximately by pacing (one pace or walking step is taken as 80 cm or 2.5 A). 3, The objects and nature of the ground on both sides of alignment, up (© 50 m, are noted in the field book. 4, Obstacles like religious places or valuable structures, if any, should be suitably crossed over. 5, If the tentative alignment crosses a river obliquely or passes through a ‘wide cross section of it then the alignment is diverted suitably to cross the river perpendicularly and through its shortest width. 6. All other important points like railway crossings, should be noted | 7. The highest flood level ever attained and the discharge records for the last 10 years should be collected from the appropriate authorities to design the culverts and bridges. 8. Preliminary records should be prepared of properties eligible for ‘compensation. ual crossings, ete. Preliminary Location Survey econnaissance survey, a suitable alignment or alignments are selected for iminary location survey for detailed investigation to obiain the most economical “The preliminary survey is done in the following way:1. The starting point of the project is marked by a pillar, > Fly leveling is done to connect the nearby GTS or permanent BM with the starting point of the project. 4, A prismatic compass survey is conducted to prepare a route survey map covering about 50 mon both sides of the alignment. Sometimes a plane table survey is done in order to obtain the route survey map. 44, Longitudinal levelling is done along the alignment at regular intervals (of say, 20 or 40 m). "The magnetic bearing of each line should be noted in the level book. 5, Gross sections are taken at regular intervals (of, say, 100 m). %. Permanent benchmarks should be established at suitable places along the alignment for future reference 7, The cross sections of rivers, nulla, etc., should be taken accurately §. In the case of big rivers, additional data should be collected for designing the bridges. The following points should be kept in mind: (@) Cross sections at 100 m intervals are taken about 500 m upstream ‘and 500 m downstream of the bridge site, (0) HFL ever attained should be noted (©) Boring should be done on the river bed to find the depth of foundation of the piers, (4) The nature of erosion and scour should be noted. 9. Preparation of Drawing: The drawing prepared should include the following: (a) Route survey map (to suitable scale), (b) Longitudinal section with formation level (to suitable scale), (©) Cross sections with formation width and side slopes (@) Contour map of the strip of land along alignment, (©) Design of curves with setting out table, and (HA mass diagram for the earth work 10. Office Work (@) Total land width required is marked on the route survey map, (©) Estimate of earth work in cutting and banking, (©) Design and cost estimate of culverts and bridges, (@) Cost estimate of fly over, if any, (©) Estimate for compensation required (H) Estimate of road surface construction, and (g) Total cost of project for the tentative ali E. Final Location Survey “The most economical alignment is selected by analysing the merits, demerit, Goat remarontion, etc, fr the proposed alignments after préliminary tortion survey, Before the approval of the project is obtained from the higher authorities,the final location survey is completed in all respects. The following steps are taken for final location survey: 1. The centre line is marked by stout pegs or pillars at intervals of 30 m. 2. The total land width required is marked by pillars at regular intervals (of, say, 30 m). 3. The tangent points and intersection points of the curves are properly marked by pillars. 4. A final record is prepared of properties eligible for compensation. F. Project Report After completion of all investigation work, survey work design of different structures, and total estimate for the project, a report should be prepared and submitted to the higher authorities for approval. The report prepared should include information related to the following: 1. Introduction to the project 2. Necessity and background of the project 3. Justification for selection of the final alignment and the procedure adopted for land acquisition 4. Detailed estimate covering all items—earth work, road surface, culverts, bridges, compensation, etc. 5. Detailed specification for the constructional works 6. Overall benefit of the project 7. Conclusion and recommendation Maps to be submitted along with project report: ‘(@) General map of the country through which the proposed road will ‘survey map (to suitable scale) section (to suitable scale) ion (to suitable scale) wing of culverts, bridges, flyovers, etc.