A revolutionary software called MX Roads, a Bentley systems product, is being used to propose the most cost-effective designs for 3,400 km state roads in Karnataka. It's a software that helps map out a 3-D image of road design, suggests alternatives based on cost and advises on the most technically sound version.
The technology has already been used to design a difficult road through Pir Panjal mountains in J&K, as well as widen road sections in Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh.
Venkat Ramana Shilla, Principal Engineer, Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick India Ltd, said that designing Vijaywada-Machlipatnam and Hyderabad-Vijaywada sections on NH-9 was done with the help of MX Roads. Other projects where the software is used include 270 km, six-lane Eastern Peripheral Expressway around Delhi, 41 km ring road around Bangalore and 300 km road network around Srinagar.
"The software helps design roads for virgin alignments or widening/upgrading existing roads in easy steps. It's so simple that even a layman can design the road. Earlier software was difficult and required well-trained engineers," said Shilla.
By using MX Roads the cost of Vijaywada-Hyderabad and Vijaywada-Machlipatnam stretches was cut down by 15 per cent. In the Srinagar project, the designing helped shave off some eight months from the project schedule.