The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur has unveiled a pioneering infrastructure initiative with the inauguration of the Kharagpur Accelerated Pavement Test Facility (K-APTF). Shri Amit Shukla, Director General of NRIDA & Joint Secretary, MoRD, Government of India, officially launched the K-APTF in the presence of Shri Devinder Kumar, Project Director-II, NRIDA; Prof. Ramgopal Maddali, Dean Infrastructure; Prof. Rabibrata Mukherjee, Dean R&D; Prof. Arghya Deb, Dean Alumni Affairs; Prof. Dhrubajyoti Sen, Head, Civil Engineering; Prof. Bhargab Maitra, Dean Student Affairs; Captain Amit Jain (Retd.) Registrar, IIT Kharagpur. On the occasion, Prof. M. A. Reddy from Civil Engineering department delivered a presentation tracing the journey of the Pavement Engineering Research Group, highlighting the development of the Portable Axle Load Pad to the commissioning of K-APTF and outlined the future research directions of the facility.
The facility, developed by the Pavement Engineering Research (PaVER) group under the Department of Civil Engineering’s Transportation Engineering Section, marks a significant leap in indigenous research and development in road infrastructure. The research team behind the formation of this facility comprises of Prof. K. Sudhakar Reddy, Prof. M. Amaranatha Reddy, Dr. Kranthi Kumar Kuna, Mr. Sidhyanath Panda and Mr. Vinayak Sahu from IIT Kharagpur.
Sponsored by the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, this facility has been conceptualized to support the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) by generating vital performance data to revise and validate pavement design guidelines suited for Indian conditions.
Shri Amit Shukla, Director General of NRIDA & Joint Secretary, MoRD, Government of India remarked, “This Accelerated Pavement Test Facility (APTF) will serve as a powerful catalyst for research and innovation, offering young researchers a unique platform to explore pavement mechanics and performance modelling. It will also provide invaluable hands-on experience for students, enabling them to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application. Such practical exposure is essential for shaping the next generation of engineers, equipping them with the skills and insights needed to tackle real-world challenges. I commend the Transportation Division of IIT Kharagpur for their dedication in establishing this state-of-the-art facility and urge the faculty to fully leverage this remarkable resource in developing sustainable, forward-thinking solutions.”
The K-APTF, installed within the Central Stores of IIT Kharagpur, is India’s first Accelerated Pavement Testing facility within an academic institute. Developed using indigenous technology, the low-cost and easy-to-maintain facility will serve as a cornerstone for evaluating the performance of both conventional and new pavement materials and systems.
Significance of K-APTF
The Government of India is investing heavily in rural infrastructure through schemes like PMGSY. There exists a pressing need to validate and update pavement design and construction guidelines, especially for low-volume rural roads (LVRs). The K-APTF enables this by offering a platform for accelerated, real-time performance evaluation of road materials and technologies under controlled, simulated traffic conditions.
The facility allows for:
- Evaluation of locally available and non-conventional materials to develop suitable specifications.
- Cost-effective and timely testing of innovative materials and systems.
- Development of a comprehensive performance database for various pavement types.
- A rational basis for adoption of new technologies by highway authorities.
- Validation and potential revision of current pavement design catalogues and procedures.
With K-APTF, IIT Kharagpur reaffirms its commitment to nation-building through cutting-edge, context-sensitive research. This landmark facility is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping future rural road infrastructure, ensuring quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
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Inputs from: Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
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