Principles Governing Rural Roads Design Standards:
The following principles should govern in design of rural roads :
(a) Rural Roads are low volume facility serving an access function. Hence the design speed and geometric design standards are kept the minimum.
(b) Initial cost is an important consideration. Hence the pavement may be constructed to cater to low volume of traffic to start with, and later on strengthened as traffic intensity grows. A design period of 10 years is adequate.
(c) Gravel roads, without black-topping, are adequate for most of the access roads to start with. The use of techniques like soil-stabilisation should be made. Maximum use of locally available materials must be made.
(d) The alignment and grades should be selected at the initial stage itself because these are costly to be rectified later.
(e) Drainage should be given adequate consideration.
(f) Durable assets must be constructed and maintenance should receive good attention.
(g) Low-cost cross-drainage structures like vented causeways, paved dips and submersible bridges should be adopted.