Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Chapter-2- The Project CHAPTER 2 THE PROJECT 2.0 The Project 2.1 Project road alignment The Project Road takes off at 76.400 km on NH-54 at Lawngtlai town in south Mizoram, runs towards the south and terminates at Indo Myanmar border ( River Zocha) road. The Project road alignment passes through frequently cultivated degraded jhumland. It crosses the existing BRO roads, namely, Lawngtlai to Diltlang Parva road at one point and Nalkawn Chamdur Valley road at four points. The road, proposed to be of double – lane NH standard is of length 99.830 km. The road also passes through the villages of Saizawh East and Zochachhuah. The location of this proposed trade route has been shown in Map 2.1 . About 17.88 % length of the road passes through private land , 75.76% passes through degraded jhumland and 6.36 % pass through forest land. The road passes through mainly two villages ,viz Saizawh East and Zochachhuah. 2.2 Proposed Road Segments The road has been divided into four homogeneous segments I, II, III and IV with respect to physical features as given in following table Table2.1: Project road segments Location in chainages Type of Terrain Major River crossing Length Segment Name of Location From To (km) Hilly Steep River at km Lawngtlai Leichhekawn Segment-I (0.00) (40.980) 40.980 4.098 36.882 Ruankhum 34.634 Leichhekawn R.Ngengpui Segment-II (40.980) (56.500) 15.520 9.1568 6.3632 Ngengpui 56.500 Darnam R.Ngengpui Saddle Segment-III (56.500) (74.300) 17.800 5.874 11.926 - - Bawklawk 79.323 Lunghauka 81.530 Darnam R.Zocha Khawrawp Segment-IV Saddle (Border) 25.530 18.892 6.6378 89.321 (74.300) (99.830) Hmawngbu 94.204 Zochate 96.225 Zocha 99.800 99.830 38.021 61.809 Government of Mizoram Page 2- 1 Public Works Department, Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Chapter-2- The Project Segment I: Lawngtlai (0.000 km) to – Leichhekawn (40.980km) , 40.98 kms At the project road take off point, the Lairam Isua Krista Baptist Kohhran (LIKBK) Church at chainage 0.00 kmp and Assam Oil Corporation (AOC) filling station will be required to be removed to have adequate area at junction point with NH-54 and also to accommodate bus bays and truck lay-byes at this junction. There are two cemetery locations, viz. Lawngtlai III cemetery at chainage 1.00 – 1.150 km and Chanmari Cemetery chainage 2.800 – 2.900 km. Some portions of this cemetery have to be acquired to have requisite ROW for the project. This segment, from take off point of the project road to Leichhekawn (Ch. 40.980), is mostly steep terrain with about 10% mountainous terrain and the rest being hilly terrain. New earth cutting to obtain the required formation will be required. In this segment the proposed alignment crosses LDP Road at Chainage 4.440 km and NCV Road at Chainage 38.150km. There is no crossing of big river or human habitation or settlements in this section. However, there are five villages which are located nearby but outside the project corridor, they will get benefit from the proposed road on its completion. The name of the villages, located nearby the project road corridor, which will be directly influenced by the project road are listed below – Sl.No. Village Name Population 1. Nalkawn 20 2. Saikah ‘U’ 524 3 Paithar 517 4 R.Vanhne 120 5 Rulkual 670 Source: Mizoram PMGSY There is one running stone quarry near Rulkual village which will be one of the main sources of stone material for construction purposes, especially the pavement works. Segment II : Leichhekawn (40.980km) to- R.Ngengpui (56.500 km) 15.520kms In this segment the general topography is that the mountainous terrain is 59% and the steep terrain is 41%. The alignment also passes through Saizawh East village at Government of Mizoram Page 2- 2 Public Works Department, Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Chapter-2- The Project chainage 47.9KM – 48.45KM The population of this village is 224. RCC double lane bridge will be required to cross the R.Ngengpui at chainage 56.500KM. Segment III: R.Ngengpui (56.5km) to Darnam Saddle (74.300km) 17.800kms In this sector the general topography is 33% of mountainous terrain and the rest may be classified as hilly terrain characterized by several natural drainages and streams perennial and non- perennial. The project road crosses the zigzagging NCV road at three locations, viz. chainage 60.8km, 70.92km and 71.32km, 74.30km, 85km, 91.2 km & 98.28 km. Segment IV: Darnam Saddle(74.300km) to R. Zocha (Indo-Myanmar Border), (99.830km) , 25.530km This is the last segment of the project road meeting the Indo Myanmar Border at River Zocha (chainage 99.83 KM). About 74% of this sector is mountainous and steep terrain of 26%. In this sector the alignment crosses six rivers including the river at border The alignment of the project passes through Zochachhuah Village, the last village in Mizoram along the project alignment before reaching the Myanmar side. The Nalkawn Chamdur Valley (NCV) road which was constructed by Border Roads Organization (BRO) and later taken over by Mizoram PWD recently. There are four villages in the vicinity of the project road within segment III and IV. Table 2.2 Villages in the vicinity of Project Road. (Segment III & IV) Sl. No Village Name Population 1 Darnamtlang 408 2 Lunghauka 434 3 Hmawngbuchhuah 439 4 Hmawngbu 615 5 Sabualtlang 239 6 Kakichhuah 120 7 Tuithumhnar 420 Government of Mizoram Page 2- 3 Public Works Department, Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Chapter-2- The Project Map 2.1 Proposed trade routes – Proposed road alignment Government of Mizoram Page 2- 4 Public Works Department, Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Chapter-2- The Project 2.3 Design standards for proposed road The design standards adopted for the project road are based on relevant Indian Roads Congress Codes. Specifications for Road and Bridges of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. 2.3.1 Geometric Design Standards and Design Speed The project road traverses through hilly terrain comprising mountainous and steep terrain. The terrain classification adopted for the Project Road is given in Table below. Table 2.3: Terrain Classification Sl/No. Terrain % Cross slope 1. Plain < 10 2. Rolling 10 – 25 3. Mountainous 25 – 60 4. Steep > 60 Proposed Design Speed (km/hr) Sl/No Mountainous Terrain Steep Terrain Ruling Minimum Ruling Minimum 1. 50 40 40 30 2.3.2 Road Land Width: The desirable width of road land as given by IRC (Right of Way) for the stretches of project road, located in open and built up areas is given in table. Desirable Road Land Width (ROW) Sl/No Open Areas Built up Areas Normal Exceptional Normal Exceptional 1. 24 m 18 m 20 m 18 m 2.3.3 Alignment Geometry The design parameters governing the horizontal alignment are given in table. The minimum lengths of transition curves proposed for different speed and radii are given Government of Mizoram Page 2- 5 Public Works Department, Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Chapter-2- The Project in table. The design criteria proposed for design of hairpin bend are presented in table. The design criteria for vertical alignment are given in table. Table2.4: Design Parameters for Horizontal Curve Sl.No. Design Elements Design Speed (km/hr) 50 40 30 1. Radius of Horizontal Curve (m) > Minimum 80 50 30 > No transition curve 500 300 170 2. Max. Super 0.10 0.10 0.10 Elevation (e) Table2.5: Minimum Lengths of Transition Curve Sl/No Curve Radius (m) Transition Length (m) 50 kmph 40 kmph 30 kmph 1. 25 - - NA 2. 30 - - 30 3. 40 - NA 25 4. 50 - 40 20 5. 55 - 40 20 6. 70 NA 30 15 7. 80 55 25 15 8. 90 45 25 15 9. 100 45 20 15 10. 125 35 15 15 11. 150 30 15 15 12. 170 25 15 NR 13. 200 20 15 14. 300 15 NR 15. 400 15 - 16. 500 NR - NA: Not applicable NR: Not required Government of Mizoram Page 2- 6 Public Works Department, Mizoram Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project in Mizoram EIA-EMP Report Construction of road from NH-54 to Indo-Myanmar border Chapter-2- The Project Table2.6 Gradients for Vertical Alignment Sl/No Gradient Terrain Mountainous Steep 1. Ruling 5% (1 in 20) 6% (1 in 16.7) 2. Limiting 6% (1 in 16.3) 7% (1 in 14.3) 3. Exceptional 7% (1 in 14.3) 8% (1 in 12.5) Cross-section Elements : The carriageway width of NH-54 varies from single lane (3.75m) to intermediate lane (5.5m). The maximum expected traffic between two countries would be to the tune of 100 trucks/per day as indicated in the report of “Inland Water Transport between Sittwe Port and Kaletwe in Myanmar, 2002”. Besides, there would also be some passenger vehicles.