Despite government’s circular, Mumbai civic body not keen on using plastic waste to build roads
Experts say that plastic roads can rid the city of potholes and regular wear and tear, especially during the rains.
Despite the state government’s notification making it mandatory for its public works department (PWD) and civic bodies to use plastic waste for tar roads, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it will first undertake a study to check how effective the method is. Experts say that plastic roads can rid the city of potholes and regular wear and tear, especially during the rains.
The BMC will start penalising citizens for use, transport and manufacturing of plastic from Monday.
VP Chithore, chief engineer (roads) BMC, said: “I have no idea about any such circular form the state about using plastic for roads. The BMC is not planning anything as such as of now. We will have to study it before we decide anything.”
In 2014, BMC’s G/North ward had used plastic to build a road. Sharad Ughade, the then ward officer, said, “The experiment was a success and the road is still intact.”
A BMC official, who was formerly with the BMC’s road department, said, “The Central circular came to the civic body in 2016, but till date nothing concrete has taken place. The percentage of bitumen in the total road material is 7%. Plastic can replace 3% to 4 % of bitumen. The small percentage of plastic in road construction does not make any difference as storing plastic is costly.”
Bitumen is a bonding agent which binds the tar with crushed stones/gravel and is then used for laying the road. The official further added, “We have not yet formed any policy. For making the mix of bitumen, stones and plastic, we need to do modifications in the plant (private or BMC owned).”