Evaluation of Pavement Distress and Maintenance Strategies for National Highway NH-448 (Ajmer to Beawar Section), Rajasthan

Transportation Engineering

Abstract Pavement distress is a major problem on Indian national highways due to heavy traffic, extreme climatic conditions, and inadequate maintenance. This paper evaluates the common types of pavement distress observed on a 35 km section of NH-448 from Ajmer to Beawar, Rajasthan. The study identifies cracks, potholes, rutting, and raveling as the major distress types. A condition survey was conducted using the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) method. Results show that 42% of the section is in "poor" condition, 33% in "fair" condition, and only 25% in "good" condition. The main causes identified are heavy truck traffic (65% of total vehicles), high temperature variation (2–45°C), and poor drainage. Three maintenance strategies are compared: routine maintenance, preventive maintenance (crack sealing + thin overlay), and rehabilitation (mill and fill). Cost analysis shows that preventive maintenance is the most cost-effective option, saving 35% in lifecycle costs compared to reactive maintenance. The study recommends a preventive maintenance approach with improved drainage and periodic PCI monitoring every 2 years.

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