Coir Geo Textile

Coir Geo textiles will be used for construction of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III).
The project will be implemented by the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) under Union Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India.

In March, 2020, the government had announced National Technical Textile Mission and the use of geo-textiles in highways, railways and ports were envisaged in the proposed mission.

As per the PMGSY new technology guidelines for road construction, 15% length in each batch of proposals is to be constructed using new technologies.
Out of this 5% roads are to be constructed using Indian Road Congress (IRC) accredited technology. The IRC has now accredited coir Geo textiles for construction of rural roads.
As per these instructions, 5% length of the rural roads under PMGSY-III will be constructed using Coir Geo textiles.
1674 km road will be constructed using Coir Geo textiles in 07 states for which there will be a requirement of One Crore Sq. mtrs of coir Geo-textiles, estimated cost of which would come to Rs.70 Crore.

The decision will give a big boost to the coir industry especially in these difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic.

Geo textiles are permeable fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain.
Typically made from polypropylene or polyester, geotextile fabrics come in three basic forms: woven (resembling mail bag sacking), needle punched (resembling felt), or heat bonded (resembling ironed felt).

Applications

Geotextiles and related products have many applications and currently support many civil engineering applications including roads, airfields, railroads, embankments, retaining structures, reservoirs, canals, dams, bank protection, coastal engineering and construction site silt fences or geotube.
Usually geotextiles are placed at the tension surface to strengthen the soil.
These are also used for sand dune armoring to protect upland coastal property from storm surge, wave action and flooding.

It a permeable fabric, natural, strong, highly durable, resistant to rots, moulds and moisture, free from any microbial attack, has finally been accepted as a good material for rural road construction.
Totally biodegradable, geo textiles help soil stabilisation and renew vegetation in varying slopes.

Benefits

The Phase III was approved by the Cabinet during July 2019.
Under the PMGSY-III Scheme, it is proposed to consolidate 1,25,000 Km road length in the States.
The duration of the scheme is 2019-20 to 2024-25.
It involves consolidation of Through Routes and Major Rural Links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.
The funds would be shared in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State for all States except for 8 North Eastern states and Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand for which it is 90:10.
Selection of candidate roads based on the sum total of the marks obtained by particular road on the basis of parameters of population served, market, educational and medical facilities, etc.

The IRC is the Apex Body of Highway Engineers in the country.
It was set up in December, 1934 on the recommendations of the Indian Road Development Committee best known as Jayakar Committee set up by the government with the objective of road development in India.
It provides a national forum for sharing of knowledge and pooling of experience on the entire range of subjects dealing with the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges.