Highways may get traffic 'road test' before launch

NEW DELHI: Following incidents of newly built highway stretches developing cracks, potholes, premature failures, rutting and other deficien-cies, govt is looking at the option of carrying out trial runs on highways for a longer per-iod before they are officially inaugurated. That is, normal traffic may be allowed on the stretches for two-three mon-ths to identify deficiencies before the formal launch, reports Dipak Dash.Officials said trial runs on highways are carried out only after all work and safety audits have been completed. TOI has learnt that the idea was discussed during a meeting to review progress in the Delhi-Mumbai expre-ssway project last week, whi-ch road transport minister Nitin Gadkari chairedInstances of extended trial run in past too: OfficialsOfficials said there have b