Economy

India installs ‘World’s first’ bamboo crash barrier on Maharashtra Highway

In yet another achievement towards self-reliance, India developed the world’s first bamboo-made crash barrier and installed it on the Vani-Warora Highway in Vidarbh, Maharashtra.

Crash barriers are installed on either side of a highway with an aim to prevent vehicles from falling out of the road network. It also keeps outside elements from entering into the highways. These are typically made of steel due to the strength the metal gives to these key infrastructure. Replacing steel barriers with bamboo crash barriers would be a very innovative move by the Centre to bring down fatalities in road accidents.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari called the development a “remarkable achievement” for India and its bamboo sector. “An extraordinary accomplishment towards achieving #AatmanirbharBharat has been made with the development of the world’s first 200-meter-long Bamboo Crash Barrier, which has been installed on the Vani-Warora Highway, ” said the Minister of Road Transport and Highways in a tweet.

Talking about the barrier, the minister also conveyed that the bamboo-type used to make this crash barrier is Bambusa Balcoa, which has been treated with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE). The crash barrier will act as the perfect alternative for steel and is environment-friendly, the minister added.

The bamboo crash barrier, which has been named ‘Bahu Bali’ is about 200-meter long. In a statement, the Ministry of Road and Highways said that the crash barrier had undergone rigorous testing at various government-run institutions, including National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Pithampur, Indore and was rated as Class 1 in the Fire Rating Test which was conducted at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee. The bamboo crash barrier had also been accredited by the Indian Road Congress.

The statement released by the ministry also revealed that the recycling value of the bamboo crash barrier is 50-70%, while that of steel barriers is 30-50%.

 

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