International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 12 | Dec 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Assessment of PMGSY/MMGSY Roads of Surat District
Jainish Patel
Birla Vishvakarma Mahavidyalaya ***
Abstract- Rural road infrastructure plays a vital role in connecting remote communities, promoting economic activities, and ensuring last-mile connectivity. This study focuses on the evaluation, condition assessment, and design of four low-volume rural roads located in Gujarat, India. A Visual Condition Survey was conducted in accordance with IRC:82-2015, and Pavement Condition Ratings (PCR) were assigned based on observed distresses. Roads were categorized under traffic classes T8 and T9, and pavement designs were developed following IRC:SP:72-2015, considering subgrade strength classes ranging from S3 to S5. Due to the absence of soil testing data, subgrade CBR values were adopted from local authorities. Layer-wise quantity estimation and a rate analysis sheet that included conveyance costs based on material lead distances were also used to conduct a thorough cost analysis. The findings demonstrated that variations in traffic volume and subgrade condition had a substantial impact on pavement design and cost. Under financial constraints, the study offers workable design solutions for sustainable rural road development and emphasizes the significance of PCR-based condition evaluation.
Keywords: Rural Roads; Pavement Condition Rating (PCR); Visual Condition Survey; IRC:SP:72-2015; Subgrade CBR; Low-Volume Roads; Rate Analysis; Pavement Design; Cost Estimation; Traffic Classification
I. Introduction
FormillionsofpeopleinIndia,especiallyinruralandimpoverishedareas,ruralroadsaretheirlifelines.Theyareessential for maintaining mobility, facilitating access to necessary services, and promoting socioeconomic growth. Numerous governmentprograms,includingthePradhanMantriGramSadakYojana(PMGSY),havebeenintroducedtoimproveand extend rural road networks in recognition of their significance. However, due to early failures, poor maintenance, and a lackoftechnicalassessment,thesustainabilityofruralroadsisstillaconcerndespitetremendousprogress.
Implementing an organized and economical methodology for the assessment and design of rural roads is crucial to addressing these issues. Methods for evaluating pavement performance, such as the Pavement Condition Rating (PCR) system,whichisbasedonIRC:82-2015,offerausefulwaytoclassifyroadconditionsandgaugesurfacedistress.Engineers andplannerscanbetterprioritizemaintenanceandredesignprojectswiththeaidoftheseratings.
Simultaneously, IRC:SP:72-2015 provides a thorough framework for low-volume flexible pavement structural design, based on factors such as subgrade strength (S1–S5) and traffic loading (T1–T9) that are determined from CBR values. Theserecommendations,whenfollowedmethodically,guaranteelong-lasting,performance-basedruralroaddesignsthat areappropriateforthearea.
In this study, four rural road segments in Gujarat will be visually inspected for condition, categorized using PCR, and suitable pavement layers will be designed using IRC:SP:72-2015. Additionally, a thorough rate analysis was carried out usingmaterialtransportdataandfield-relevantcostcomponents,enablingacomparativecomprehensionofthefinancial ramifications of pavement design choices. The study's conclusions will help local organizations plan their rural infrastructureinaninformed,data-drivenmanner.
II. Literature Review
Infrastructure engineering research has extensively examined the assessment and design of rural roads because of their socioeconomic importance and long-term performance issues. For low-volume roads, especially in environments with limitedresources,anumberofapproacheshavebeenputforthtoevaluatepavementconditionandoptimizedesign.
Usingdataatthemunicipallevel,Afridietal.(2023)investigatedtheapplicationofmachinelearningmodelstopredictthe PavementConditionIndex(PCI).Thesignificanceofvisualinspectionforpromptmaintenanceplanningwasreinforcedby their study, which showed that pavement age and visible distress were significant predictors of pavement performance. Similar to this, Fortney et al. (2023) used principal component regression models to assess how traffic and local climate acceleratepavementdegradation,emphasizingtheimportanceofenvironmentalinfluenceinconditionassessment.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 12 | Dec 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Fortherehabilitationoflow-volumeroadsinNorway,Louetal.(2023)illustratedadigitalconstructionworkflow utilizing COMSOL and BIM in the context of rural infrastructure. The significance of coordinated data modelling in pavement renewal was brought to light by their work. Regarding materials, research on stabilization methods and the effectivenessofvariousbindertypesunderruraltrafficloadswasreviewedinstudiesliketheonescompiledinPavement Materials,Structures,andPerformance(ASCE,2022).
AnationallystandardizedmethodfordesigningruralpavementsisofferedbyIndia'sIRC:SP:72-2015,whichdividesroads into subgrade strength (S1–S5) and traffic volume (T1–T9). IRC:82-2015, on the other hand, describes methods for evaluatingsurfacedistressandclassifyingitsseverity,whichmakesitappropriateforrapidvisualconditionassessments onlow-volumeroads.
Additionally, decision support systems have become effective instruments for setting investment priorities. In order to facilitate state-level infrastructure grading, Amekudzi et al. (2023) created an Infrastructure Rating Tool (IRT) based on multi-attribute decision-making. Similarly, Yarnell (2022) demonstrated how municipalities can use asset condition trackingandGASB34frameworkstosupportmaintenancedecisions.
Notwithstanding these developments, there are still gaps in the integration of cost modelling and practical design recommendations with condition assessment in rural settings. This study expands on earlier research by integrating realisticcostestimation,IRC-guidedpavementdesign,andPCR-basedvisualassessmentstoprovideacomprehensiveyet usefulmethodforruralroadplanningandevaluation.
III. Methods
This study used a multi-phase methodology that included cost estimation, pavement layer design, pavement condition classification,andfieldconditionassessment.TheIndianRoads Congress'sguidelinesandreal-worldfieldconsiderations forlow-volumeruralroadsservedasthefoundationforthetechniques.
A. Study Area Selection
Basedontheirsignificanceforlocalconnectivity,thelevel ofpavementdistress,and theirsuitabilityfor assessmentand rehabilitation,fourruralroadsegmentsinGujarat,India,werechosen.Amongtheroadswere:
KhanjrolitoZabPatia(9.321km),
OrnatoJokhaviaVaav(10.4km),
AkotitoKantiFaliyaviaMangroliya(6.5km),and
PunaUnKosaditoVareliPatna(14.5km).
These roads predominantly serve light-to-medium rural traffic and had varying levels of surface distress at the timeofsurvey.
B. Visual Condition Survey and Pavement Condition Rating (PCR)
IncompliancewithIRC:82-2015,avisualinspectionsurveywascarriedoutforeveryroadsegment.Potholes,longitudinal, transverse,andalligatorcracks,edgebreaks,rutting,andpatchworkwereamongthepavementdistressesnoted.Basedon extent,depth,andsurfaceimpact,eachtypeofdistresswasgivenaseveritylevel:low,medium,orhigh.
Usingthisdistressdata,PavementConditionRatings(PCR)wereassignedonascaleof1to3:
3:Goodcondition
2:Faircondition
1:Poorcondition
Eachroadsegmentwasdividedintologicalstretchesforlocalizedrating.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 12 | Dec 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
C. Pavement Design Methodology
Pavement designswerecreatedusingIRC:SP:72-2015 guidelinesforflexiblepavementsinlow-volume roads, takinginto account the assigned PCR ratings, subgrade classification, and estimated traffic volume (in CVPD). T8 to T9 categories wereusedtoclassifytraffic,andlocalauthoritiesassumedCBRvalueswereusedtocalculatethesubgradestrength: S3(CBR3–5%)throughS5(CBR>7%).
For each T-S combination, layer thicknesses for Granular Sub-Base (GSB), Wet Mix Macadam (WMM), Bituminous Macadam(BM),andBituminousConcrete(BC)werechosenfromtheIRCdesigncatalogs.
D. Quantity Estimation and Rate Analysis
Cross-sectionaldimensionsforeachlayerwereusedtoestimatematerialquantitiesonaper-kilometerbasis.The Vadodaradistrict'sstandardScheduleofRates(SOR)wasusedtoconductathoroughrateanalysis.Apre-structuredExcel tool was used to calculate lead-based conveyance charges from the quarry to the construction site, which were added to thematerialcosts.Thisgaveeachpavementdesignareasonablecostestimateperkilometer.
IV. Results
Pavement condition ratings, chosen pavement designs for every road segment, and the cost estimation results from rate analysis are the ways in which the study's findings are displayed. The combined analysis demonstrates how trafficvolume,subgradestrength,androadconditionaffectruralroadprojects'structuralandfinancialaspects.
A. Pavement Condition Rating (PCR)
FollowingIRC:82-2015guidelines,PCRvalueswereallocatedtoeachroadsegmentbasedonthevisualcondition surveyanddistressclassification.Belowisasummaryoftheratings:
Table 1: Condition of Roads
The resultsindicatethat mostroads werein fair condition, with theOrna–Jokha roadhavingthe bestsurface qualityat thetimeofinspection.
B. Pavement Design Results
The layer-wise pavement designs were chosen from IRC:SP:72-2015 using traffic categories (T8 or T9) and assumed subgradeCBRclassifications(S3toS5).Typicaldesignsconsistof:
GSB:200–250mm
WMM:250mm
BituminousSurfacing(BM+BC):90–100mm
According to its classification, each road segment was given a specially designed pavement structure, guaranteeing sufficientstrengthandlongevityfortheanticipatedloadingcircumstances.
C. Cost Estimation Results
Usingthedeterminedquantitiesandcurrentunitrates,acostanalysiswasperformedforeveryroad.Basedontheactual lead distances from quarry locations, conveyance costs were factored in. Below is a comparison of the estimated cost of constructionperkilometer:
International Research Journal of Engineering and
Volume: 12 Issue: 12 | Dec 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
Table 2 : Cost Estimation
KhanjrolitoZabPatia
OrnatoJokhaviaVaav
AkotitoKantiFaliyaviaMangroliya(Karchka)
PunaUnKosaditoVareliPatna
V. Discussion
Thestudy'sfindingsshedlightontheopportunitiesandreal-worlddifficultiesassociatedwiththeassessment,design,and pricing of rural roads. The study presents a scalable framework for planning rural infrastructure by integrating visual inspectionwithPCR-basedevaluation,IRC-compliantdesignstandards,andreal-worldrateanalysis.
A. Impact of Pavement Condition on Design
Withouttheneedforspecializedequipment,thePavementConditionRatings(PCR)providedaquickandaccuratewayto evaluatethestateoftheroadsurface.Thesingle"Good"road(Orna–Jokha)neededlittleredesign,whereasroadsratedas "Fair" (PCR = 2) usually needed moderate structural intervention. This backs up the use of PCR to prioritize resource allocationandrehabilitation,particularlyinunderfundedruralareas.
B. Role of Subgrade Strength and Traffic Classification
Thethicknessofthesub-baselayerinthefinishedpavementdesignwasgreatlyimpactedbythesubgradeclassification (S3toS5).Toensuredurability,thickergranularlayerswereappliedtoroadswithlowersubgradestrength(S3).Despite being regarded as low-volume traffic categories, T8 and T9 demonstrated cost variation because higher traffic stretches necessitatedsurfacelayerenhancements.
Thishighlightshowcrucialitistoincorporateprecisetrafficestimates(CVPD)andCBRvaluesearlyinthedesignprocess inordertomaximizelayerthicknessandpreventover-orunder-design.
C. Cost Implications and Optimization
Thetotalcostofconstructionperkmwasshownrealisticallythroughtheuseofalead-basedrateanalysismodel.Costs were greatly impacted by conveyance distances, particularly for bitumen and aggregates. The significance of sourcing materialslocallywheneverpossiblewashighlightedbythehigherper-kilometercostsofroadswithlongerleaddistances fromquarrysources.
Allroadsweredesignedaccordingtothesametechnicalstandard(IRC:SP:72-2015),butbecauseofvariationsinterrain, traffic, subgrade, and material availability, their costs differed. This indicates that contextual flexibility must be balanced withdesignstandardization.
D. Practical Implications
For District Rural Road Planning Authorities (DRRPA) or local PWD engineers, the study's methodology PCR assessment, IRC-based layer selection, and integrated cost modeling offers a replicable model. It makes use of scalable and easily accessible tools to enable technically sound pavement design, transparent prioritization, and justified budgeting.
References
1. IndianRoadsCongress.(2015).IRC:SP:72-2015–GuidelinesfortheDesignofFlexiblePavementsforLowVolume RuralRoads.IndianRoadsCongress,NewDelhi.
2. Indian Roads Congress. (2015). IRC:82-2015 – Code of Practice for Maintenance of Bituminous Surfaces of Highways.IndianRoadsCongress,NewDelhi.
International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 12 | Dec 2025 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072
3. Ministry of Rural Development. (2013). PMGSY Guidelines and Operational Manual. Government of India. Retrievedfromhttps://pmgsy.nic.in
4. Afridi, M. A., Erlingsson, S., Sjögren, L., & Englund, C. (2023). Predicting Pavement Condition Index Using an ML Approach for a Municipal Street Network. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, ASCE.https://doi.org/10.1061/JPEODX.PVENG-1568
5. Lou, B., Barbieri, D. M., Dyke, R. J., Han, T., Milad, A., Valencia, R. F. H., Durdyev, S., & Hoff, I. (2023). Coordinated UseofDigitalConstructionToolsforRenewalDesignofLow-VolumeRoads:ANorwegianCaseStudy.ASCEOpen JournalofEngineering,ASCE. https://doi.org/10.1061/AOMJAH.AOENG-0004
6. Fortney, E. M., Schuldt, S. J., Brown, S. L., Allen, J. P., & Delorit, J. D. (2023). A Statistical Principal Component Regression-BasedApproachtoModelingtheDegradativeEffectsofLocalClimateandTrafficonAirfieldPavement Performance.JournalofPerformanceofConstructedFacilities,ASCE.https://doi.org/10.1061/JPEODX.0000356
7. Amekudzi, A. A., Shelton, R., & Bricker, T. R. (2023). Infrastructure Rating Tool: Using Decision Support Tools to EnhanceASCEInfrastructureReportCardProcess.JournalofInfrastructureSystems,ASCE.
8. Yarnell, C. (2022). Asset Management, GASB 34, and the Local Entity Perspective. Journal of Management in Engineering,ASCE.
9. ASCE.(2019).AirfieldandHighwayPavements2019:ProceedingsoftheInternationalConference.ASCELibrary.
10. ASCE.(2022).PavementMaterials,Structures,andPerformance–SpecialIssue.ASCELibrary.
11. ASCE.(2022).RoadPavementMaterialCharacterizationandRehabilitation.ASCELibrary.
12. ASCE. (2023). Special Issue on Sustainable Civil Infrastructures: Innovative Technologies and Materials. ASCE Library.
13. ASCE.(2022).GuidelineforConditionAssessmentoftheBuildingEnvelope.ASCELibrary.
14. ASCE.(2022).AdvancesandInnovationsinPavementTechnologiesandGeomechanics.ASCELibrary.
15. GoogleEarthPro.(2024).Satelliteimageryandlayouttrackingusedformappingroadalignments.Retrieved from https://earth.google.com
16. Public Works Department, Vadodara District. (2024). Schedule of Rates and Conveyance Rate Analysis Sheet. GovernmentofGujarat.