The NEW INDIAN EXPRESS Online News and The Hans India Online News reported on a Pervious Concrete Road Pavement (PCRP) project at the Katedan Sports Complex in Hyderbad, Telegana, India. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) launched a pilot project ‘Pervious Concrete Road Pavement’ (PCRP)—also known as permeable paving, pervious pavement, or porous pavement at the Katedan Sports Complex. The pavement length is 20 meters long and 6 meters wide (136.5 square yards).
Pervious concrete is an innovative, modified form of cement concrete that is an environmentally friendly material that can be used for the construction of several types of structures—low loading intensity parking pavements, footpaths, walkways, etc. Experts have found PCRP’s performance to be very satisfactory—Pervious concrete pavement includes a highly porous concrete slab, a base layer, and a stone reservoir layer for stormwater storage that allows water to infiltrate directly to the subgrade soil or to be collected by under drains, and generally does not use sand.
Dattupant, Superintendent Engineer (south zone)-GHMC and the GHMC engineers who designed the ‘model permeable concrete pilot project’ stated that the pavement is designed to avert the possibility of water stagnation, creation of potholes, and further damage to the area. Dattupant said, “Since there have been complaints of regular concrete not being able to stop water flow and permeate, we have come up with the [pilot project]. This would not only help the structure remain intact, but also helps in achieving the major environmental concern of water recharging. They are experimenting with the idea, and if the pilot project percolates water as expected, the entire parking area and pavement would be covered with this kind of material, as well as inside the compound—the sports complex will have an entirely different footpath and parking area.”
He further said that the seepage through the concrete structure—made without using sand—will not only help in retaining it for longer period, but also allows rainwater which can be used after recharge. “After about 20 days, the engineers will be testing the strength and viability. If there is a requirement in component change, a new mix will be tested again, as this is was taken up as experimental purpose.”
As far as the expense, Dattupant said that the cost of this technology would be same as the normal concrete pavement. “The proposal will be taken forward, and after [the approval of senior officials], there is possibility of implementing [pervious pavement construction] at other [venues],” he noted. He contented as after formation of Telangana state, the GHMC engineers found a platform to implement innovative ideas in civil engineering like plastic roads, thermocol buildings and construction of buildings with polymer wall system.
PCRP can help in improving recharging of rainwater as well. It can become a component of rainwater harvesting schemes propagated on a large scale by the Central Government. The concrete is light grey in colour and absorbs less heat in comparison to the black bituminous concrete. Large-sized interconnected voids are made to help the water seep below. Like conventional concrete, the material mixture is made of a cement, gravel and water. The porous structure allows water to pass through easily. When permeable concrete is used for such projects like pavement and parking area, engineers believe that it can take in storm water and the rainwater could be stored in a coarse gravel layer underneath the pavement or allowed to percolate into the underlying soil.
As described in a November 2017 ISCP article (see link #2 below), trends in pervious pavements is that it helps reduce temperatures on and around pavements—reducing heat and its effects. Natural filtration of water through soil is the simplest way to control these pollutants and also acts as a major advantage of the permeable pavement. Other benefits include:
• Depletion of ground water level
• Reduced environmental impact
• Decreased hydroplaning and glare
• Increased visibility and traction
• Reduced noise
• Filtered-out pollutants that contribute to water pollution
• Reduced need for road salt
• Reduced construction costs for residential and commercial development by reducing the need for conventional drainage features
Moreover, many government agencies implementing storm water impact fees for all impervious areas, is driving the market for pervious pavement market. The report has been analyzed based on the three segments of Material, Design & Application, and End-use in the regions of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (ROW).
For the ISCP articles on Pervious Pavement, please go to:
1 – “Published Thesis: “Structural Design Guidelines for Pervious Concrete Pavements”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2019/06/10/published-thesis-structural-design-guidelines-for-pervious-concrete-pavements/
2 – “Pervious Pavement Market Forecasted to Grow Significantly Through the Years 2017 to 2022”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2017/11/17/pervious-pavement-market-forecasted-to-grow-significantly-throughout-2017-2022/
3 – “ABSTRACT: Temperature Predictions in Pervious Concrete Pavement During Cold Months”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2016/07/21/abstract-temperature-predictions-in-pervious-concrete-pavement-during-cold-months/
4 – “Philippines: Push for Ordinance Requiring Permeable Pavements in Davao City as Part of Urban Sustainable Initiatives”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2018/09/21/philippines-push-for-ordinance-requiring-permeable-pavements-in-davao-city-as-part-of-urban-sustainable-initiatives/
5 – “Organization Pushes for Ordinance Requiring Use of Permeable Pavements for Urban Sustainability”: https://www.concretepavements.org/2018/05/21/organization-pushes-for-ordinance-requiring-use-of-permeable-pavements-for-urban-sustainability/
For the NEW INDIAN EXPRESS online article, please go to: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2019/sep/09/road-paved-with-pervious-concrete-2030926.html
For the The Hans India Online News article, please go to:
https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/hyderabad/ghmc-pilot-project-uses-permeable-concrete-562832