Draft Third Revision of IRC:8 "Type Design for Distance Markers on Roads and Highways"

(Merging two IRC Codes, IRC:25-1967 "Type Designs for Boundary Stones" and
IRC:26-1967 "Type Design for 200-Metre Stones")

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The standard on Kilometre stones was published by the Indian Road Congress originally in 1960. It
was reviewed by the Specifications and Standards Committee (personnel given on inside front and
back cover) in October 1969 with respect to the language of inscription, and certain modifications
were made.

1.2 The first revised standard incorporating few changes was approved by the Council of Indian Roads
Congress at their meeting held at Guwahati on 28th October 1979 and was recommended for adoption
on all roads in the country.

1.3 The second revision merged IRC 25 1967 (Type designs for boundary stones) and IRC 26 1967 (Type
design for 200-metre stones) with the document integrating a change in title to ‘Type Design for
Distance Markers on Roads and Highways’. It was approved by the Council of Indian Roads Congress
at their meeting held at New Delhi on 21st November 2019.

1.4 The current revision proposed the term ‘Distance Markers’ instead of ‘Kilometre Stones’ or ‘5-
Kilometre Stones’ or ‘200-Metre Stones’ owing to the new design and material used in the
construction.

2.0 Location and Placement

2.1 Normally all distance markers (Kilometre marker, 5-Kilometre marker and 200-Metre marker) shall be
located on the left-hand side of the road as one proceeds from the station from which the distance
marker count starts. On divided roads having a central median, distance markers should be provided at
the left on both sides of the road i.e. independently for each direction of travel. The schematic
representation of distance markers is given below.

2.2 Distance markers shall be fixed right angles to the centre line of the carriageway. On embankments,
these shall be located on the edge of the roadway beyond the shoulders, if necessary on specifically
erected platforms. In cut sections, these shall be fixed clear of the shoulders as well as the side drains.

2.3 All distance markers must be placed on metal poles/staffs on the side of the shoulder or the crash
barrier. While Kilometre and 5-Kilometre markers are fixed at heights of 1525 mm 1625 mm

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 respectively from the ground, 200-metre markers have a minimum height of 1000 mm or the height of
the crash barrier whichever is higher.

2.4 Kilometre and 5-Kilometre markers are installed at 750 mm away from the end of the earthen shoulder
or the crash barrier (See Annexure 3), whereas 200-Metre marker is installed over the boundary wall
given in IRC SP 87 (See Annexure 4) wherever it is available. For other roads, standalone 200-Metre
stone and boundary stones are laid as per Annexure 9.

2.5 All markers are to be located on the same side of the road as the one having the Kilometre markers.
They should be planted securely just beyond the edge of the formation with their side bearing the
marking facing and parallel to the centre line of the road. The manner of locating the poles when the
road may be in embankment or cutting is illustrated in Annexure 3 and 8.

2.6 Boundary stones shall be converted to boundary wall as given in IRC: SP 87 in National Expressways,
National Highways and State Highways. Boundary walls shall be laid on either side of the abutting
land (Right-of-way line) in every 200 metres. In addition, these shall be fixed at all angular points of
the boundary.

2.7 Where the boundary is on a curve or the land is costly and likely to be encroached upon, continuous
boundary walls/stones must be mounted, as necessary in each case.

2.8 Boundary wall shall project 900 mm above the ground. Boundary stones shall project 300 mm above
ground with the lower 600 mm going into the foundation. Where the natural soil at the base is good,
the stones may be fixed in position by ramming spalls and moorum or soil all around. But these have
to be encased in at least 150 mm of concrete or lean cement concrete in the following cases:

i. where wet cultivation abuts the road land and boundary stones are apt to be displaced during
agricultural operations;

ii. where the road runs in built-up areas; and

iii. where the boundary stones are intended to serve as permanent landmarks.

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3.0 Background Colour

3.1 All distance markers are represented in dual colour design – mandatory white background and a
custom colour semi-circular head. The colour code is following the hierarchy of roads as given below
(representative).

3.2 Heads of the markers on National Expressways, National Highways and State Highways are marked
with the respective route numbers issued by various National / State Authorities. Route numbers are
not mandatory on other lower hierarchy roads.

3.3 Route numbers written on the semi-circular portion shall be in black on blue, yellow and green
backgrounds, and white on brown background. On PMGSY rural roads, the word ‘PMGSY’ shall be
written in black on the semi-circular head.

4.0 Design of Distance Markers

4.1 On National Expressways, National Highways, State Highways, Major District Roads, Other District
Roads and Village Roads or PMGSY roads, the kilometre markers used shall have two sizes:

i. “fifth-kilometre marker” (i.e. kilometre markers installed after every five kilometres) of bigger size
as shown in Annexure 1; and
ii. “ordinary kilometre marker” of smaller size vide Annexure 2.

4.2 Under certain circumstances, Kilometre stones (on the ground) may be used instead of markers on
Major District Roads, Other District Roads and Village Roads, at the discretion of local Road
Authority. (See Annexures 6 and 7)

4.3 On National Expressways, National Highways and State Highways, 200-Metre markers and boundary
walls are designed together as per Annexure 4. Other roads and roads with less than recommended
ROW may continue with the traditional boundary stones and 200-Metre stones given in Annexure 9.

5.0 Materials

5.1 For National Expressways, National Highways, State Highways, it is recommended to use
retroreflective distance indicator post duly mounted on circular pipe 65 NB, 3.2 mm
confirming to IS 1239 with a ground clearance of minimum one-metre height. For Major
District Roads, Other District Roads and Village Roads, Reinforced cement concrete M15

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 grade of kilometre Stone may be used, but it is recommended to use retroreflective indicator
post.

5.2 Reinforced cement concrete kilometre stone (optional for MDR, ODR & Village Roads) shall be made
of M15 grade of concrete duly painted two coats as per the designated colour scheme. It shall be 600,
900 or 1200 mm in height for one, two or three digits respectively and shall contain the abbreviation
‘Km’ in 100 mm letters so that they are clearly visible to approaching vehicle driver from a distance of
at least 100 metres.

5.3 Retroreflective distance indicator post shall be made up of retroreflective sheeting sign as per IRC: 67
made of class-C, type XI Micro Prismatic grade sheeting and fixed over aluminium sheeting 2mm
thick or aluminium composite material sheet with an overall thickness of 4mm fixed over the back
support frame of minimum 40x40x5 mm. It shall also be angle mounted on mild steel circular pipe 65
NB 3.2 mm thickness and with a ground clearance of minimum, one-metre height firmly fixed to the
ground using properly designed foundation with M25 grade cement concrete 45 cm x 45 cm x 60 cm
and 60 cm below ground level. In case of access control roads, it can also be mounted on the post of
the crash barrier.

5.3 Retroreflective distance indicator post shall be made up of retroreflective sheeting as per IRC: 67 and
fixed over aluminium sheeting 2mm thick or aluminium composite material sheet with an overall
thickness of 4mm fixed over the back support frame. It shall be mounted on the ground with properly
designed foundation with M25 grade of concrete.

5.4 Material shall be same as that for a traffic sign (as per IRC: 67) with retro-reflective sheeting;
rectangular in shape (Longer Side Vertical), with the colour scheme as given in the Annexure 1-2. The
signs shall contain 250 mm white numerals on a 300 mm wide blue, yellow, green, etc. background (as
the case may be).

5.5 Boundary walls/stones shall be made of pre-cast reinforced concrete as per Annexures 4 and 9.

6.0 Script and Sequence of Marking

6.1 Ordinary distance markers put up on National Highways, State Highways, etc. (vide Annexure 1) shall
be either in English or Hindi or the corresponding regional language and indicate the name and
distance to the next important (i.e. intermediate) town. Fifth-kilometre markers, on the other hand,
shall be inscribed in English, Hindi and regional language (wherever applicable), showing the name
and distance of the terminal station.

6.2 The place names shall be marked in different scripts in the following sequence, in all States with Hindi
or English as the first language, only one place name being used on respective distance markers:

Km No. Script for place names Place to be shown

0 English and Hindi Terminal station / Next important city
1 Hindi (Devnagri Script) Next important town
2 English Next important town
3 Hindi (Devnagri Script) Next important town
4 English Next important town
5 English and Hindi Terminal station / Next important city
6 Hindi (Devnagri Script) Next important town

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And so on, repeated in the same order of 0-5 from 6 onwards.

6.3 For all other States with a regional language, other than Hindi and English, the following sequence
being used on distance markers. However, Hindi (Devnagri Script) on Km No. 3 and the
corresponding numbers (3, 8, 13, 18,…) in Major District Roads, Other District Roads and Village
Roads may be replaced by English, at the discretion of local Road Authority.

Km No. Script for place names Place to be shown

0 English, Hindi & Regional Language Terminal station / Next important city
1 English Next important town
2 Regional Language Next important town
3 Hindi (Devnagri Script) Next important town
4 Regional Language Next important town
5 English, Hindi & Regional Language Terminal station / Next important city
6 English Next important town

And so on, repeated in the same order of 0-5 from 6 onwards.

6.4 On kilometre markers fixed on Major District Roads, Other District Roads and Village Roads, all
markings may be in Hindi or English or script of the recognized regional language at the discretion of
the local Road Authority. Marking in English is not necessary unless the road leads to a place of tourist
or archaeological interest or there are other good reasons. However, English scripts on all 5-kilometre
markers remain the same irrespective of road hierarchy.

6.5 In every case, the numerals on distance markers shall be marked in the international form of
Indian numerals. Regional or Devnagri numerals shall not be used vide Article 343(i) of the
Constitution of India.

6.6 200-Metre markers shall have the numerals 2, 4, 6 and 8 marked in and an ascending order in the
direction of increasing chainage away from the starting station. The colour of the numerals shall be
black on a white background on all categories of roads. (Annexures 4 and 9)

6.7 The letters R B, indicating road boundary, shall be inscribed on each stone and below it the
name of the Authority in which the road land vests, i.e., PWD/NH/NHAI/SH etc.

7.0 Size, Shape and Spacing of Letters/Numerals

7.1 Letters and numerals on distance markers shall be of the following size:

i. Height of letters for Place Name – 80 mm

ii. Height of numerals for Kilometre and 5-Kilometre Marker – 130 mm
iii. Height of numerals for 200-Metre Marker / 200-Metre Stone – 60 mm
iv. Height of numerals for route numbers on Boundary Wall / Boundary Stone– 60 mm

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7.2 All letters/numerals in English should follow ‘Transport medium’ font and letters in Hindi (Devnagri
script) may retain Hindi 7 / Narad as per IRC: 67. For long place names, the thickness of letters and
the spacing between them may be reduced suitably, however without any change in their height.

7.3 When marking letters or numerals, all characters having an arc or bottom should be extended slightly
above or below the line of the other letters/numerals. This is under the accepted practice for rounded
letter and numerals.

7.4 The edge clearances should be as given below.

Top – 50 mm
Bottom – 75 mm
Sides – 50 mm
Spacing between lines – 50 mm

7.5 On Kilometre markers displayed in a language other than English, the style of lettering shall be at least
equal to the thickness of the vertical strokes/or the thickness of strokes of letters in case of scripts
having no vertical strokes (such as Oriya, Telugu and Kannada).

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 FOR NE,NH,SH

ANNEXURE 5
PLACEMENT OF 200m MARKER

ROADWAY

SHOULDER CARRIAGEWAY SHOULDER

G. L. G. L.

CROSS SECTION

Wall is continuous Wall is continuous

SHOULDER CARRIAGEWAY SHOULDER

PLAN