By Firstdespatch Desk May 08, 2025
Agartala, May 8 (FD) A 25.600 km long Kamalpur –Khowai road was completed with the active supervision of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Secretary of PWD, Kiran Gittey said today.
A Defect Liability Period (DLP) of five years commenced from the actual date of completion, he said adding following following intense rainfall in the state of Tripura during August 2024, signs of pavement settlement were observed at multiple locations, particularly on the Khowai Bypass between Km 96.000 and Km 97.000. Further pavement distress was identified along the stretches between Km 89.000 to Km 94.000 and Km 95.000 to Km 101.300. Approximately 12 km of the project length has been affected.
The construction of NH-208 was executed by the EPC Contractor in strict compliance with the specifications provided by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Comprehensive quality control protocols were maintained throughout the construction phase to ensure adherence to all applicable standards. The design and execution were carried out in accordance with the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines and MoRTH specifications.
Material quality was regularly tested in the on-site laboratory under the supervision of the Authority Engineer and further validated through assessments conducted by NABL-accredited third-party laboratories. All construction materials used were subject to prior approval by the Authority Engineer following a detailed documentation review.
Additionally, the project underwent inspection by an Independent Special Project Monitoring Unit both during and after construction. All related reports confirmed satisfactory progress and quality. Based on these assessments, the Completion Certificate was formally issued on 17.04.2023, marking the beginning of the five-year DLP.
Cause of Pavement Distress
Field observations revealed the occurrence of alligator cracking and upheaval of the pavement structure, including subgrade layers, at multiple locations. Preliminary findings suggest that the distress originated in the subgrade layer. According to the EPC Contractor’s assessment, the pavement failure was primarily caused by elevated groundwater levels, which led to saturation of the subgrade soil. This condition reduced the soil’s shear strength and load-bearing capacity, leading to pavement failure.
To identify the exact cause and evaluate the overall performance of the pavement, NHIDCL has proposed engaging the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI). Approval for this initiative has been sought from NHIDCL Headquarters in New Delhi. The CRRI team is expected to commence site investigations within the next 15 days.
Rectification Measures and Current Status
Over the past two months, the EPC Contractor has proactively mobilized the required workforce and equipment. Rectification efforts include removing and replacing the soil from the embankment up to a depth of approximately 1 to 2 meters. This is followed by the installation of a drainage barrier made of sand and sandy soil of appropriate thickness to prevent the capillary rise of moisture. A new bituminous layer is being laid thereafter.
On 07.05.2025, the ongoing rectification works were jointly inspected by the Secretary (PWD), Executive Director (Projects), NHIDCL Agartala, District Magistrate of Khowai, Deputy General Manager (Projects), PMU Teliamura, officials from the State PWD, and representatives from both the Authority Engineer and EPC Contractor.
The maintenance and rectification works are currently in progress and are expected to require an additional two months for full completion.
In view of the above situation, which has been reported by various media outlets over the past 2–3 days, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tripura held a brief meeting with the Executive Director (Projects), NHIDCL on 07.05.2025 to review the current status. A detailed update on the matter was provided to the Hon’ble Chief Minister during the meeting. FD JK