Road to Kedarnath made convenient by American Technique

G.O cell that is used in USA to cover swampy regions to build roads upon it, will now be used to build roads in Kedarnath. In India, this technique will be used for the first time and that too in Kedarnath.

G.O cell is used to build safe roads on swampy areas. IIT Roorkie also considers this technique appropriate to build roads. After the disastrous flood in Uttarakhand, this technique is being used to rebuild the road between MI-26 helipad to temple premise and Bailey bridge in Kedarnath.

During trials, Pokland machine was driven over to test the newly built road of few metres. After successful testing, the District Magistrate has given green signal to move forth.

Principal of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Col. Ajay Kothiyal, informed that IIT Roorkie alumni Prof. Sandesh Adelkar has helped in building the roads by using G.O cell technique.

What is G.O cell?

G.O cell is a flexible mesh of poly-urethane and poly-vinyl-fluoride. It is 350 to 500 mm thick, 2.5 m in length and up to 8 ft in breadth. The measurements may differ according to the size of roads.

When roads are built, this mesh is first put on the surface and then concrete, sand, stone chips etc are poured on it. This way, the mesh is stay put in the same place. Appropriate gradient of the road is also taken into consideration. Even driving a big truck over it did not damage the road.

Kedarnath also faces the danger of landslides. In such cases, G.O. cells may be helpful for a place like Kedarnath. At least 15 lakh rupees go into building 1 km of the road using this technique.
– Sandesh Adelkar, Technical Advisor of NIM

New & Image Source: dehradun amarujala