Concreting a history! New world record set during Delhi-Mumbai expressway construction
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Putting efforts to build infrastructure and expressway for the nation faster than ever, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is not only setting standards but also breaking records. This comes as a new WORLD RECORD has been scripted for the laying of pavement quality concrete (PQC) for a four-lane highway of 2,580 meters length within 24 hours. It has been achieved in India during the construction of the country’s flagship greenfield expressway, the Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai project. The construction of Delhi - Vadodara- Mumbai expressway has broken 4 records with record construction within 24 hours.
- The first record was the highest quantity of PQC laid down in 24 hours.
- The second comes as the lasrgest quantum of PQC produced in 24 hours.
- The third one was the laying of PQC in 18.75M width continuously in 24 hours.
- The fourth one largest area of rigid PQC laid for an expressway in 24 hours.
Patel Infrastructure Ltd, a contractor deployed by the NHAI to construct this crucial expressway, has achieved the feat that has been recognized by the India Book of Records, as well as the Golden Book of World Records. This feat is part of the greenfield Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai 8-lane Expressway project and was carried out by the world’s largest fully automatic ultra-modern concrete paver machine.
The construction of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which is being built at a cost of Rs. 1 lakh crore, recently attained a major boost after a slowdown due to the pandemic. This expressway will reduce travel time between the capital and India’s commercial hub by over 12 hours, is expected to be wrapped up by March 2022.
The workers had finished the job starting at 8 am on 1st February 2021, totaling 2,580 meters X 4 lanes i.e. approximately 10.32 lane kilometers by 8 am the next morning. With a width of 18.75 meters, as much an area as 48,711 square meters of concrete was laid for the expressway in 24 hours.The highest quantity of concrete laid in 24 hours – 14,613 Cubic Meter was also achieved.
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari has been emphasizing that the eight-lane expressway would be created in record time and will be one of the most modern highways in India. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, one of seven currently under construction, is aimed at decreasing logistic time and costs along with key manufacturing hubs in the country. This 1,275 km expressway has the provision to expand into 12-lanes in the future.
The expressway passes through the states of Madhya Pradesh (370 km), Gujarat (300 km), Haryana (80 km), Rajasthan (380 km), and Maharashtra (120 km). It will have its north end in Delhi and south end in Mumbai. The highway will have a 120 Kmph speed limit. It will cut the distance between Delhi and Mumbai by over 220 km. It will also have provisions for 75 rest ways and highway malls at 50km intervals on either side of the expressway.
The feat comes in the backdrop of the Ministry having constructed 8,169 km of National Highways (NHs) from April 2020 to 15 January 2021 in the current financial year 2020-21, i.e. with a speed of about 28.16 km per day. During the same period in the last fiscal, 7,573 km roads were constructed, with a speed of 26.11 km per day. The Ministry is hopeful that with such pace it should be able to cross the construction target of 11,000 km by 31 March.