Cement Manufacturers Association organises rigid pavement training in Pokhara
POKHARA: Cement Manufacturers Association of Nepal (CMA) organised a training programme on the design and construction of rigid pavement, which concluded in Pokhara on December 19. The programme was facilitated by IPTM Nepal.
The opening session, held from 9:00 am to 10:45 am, was moderated by Er Chuman Babu Shrestha and presided over by Raghunandan Maru, president of the CMA. Sita Adhikari, Vice Chairperson of Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality, Kaski, attended as the chief guest. Special guests included Er Narendra Subedi, superintendent engineer at the Federal Road Supervision and Monitoring Office, Pokhara, and Er Ram Kumar Shrestha, senior divisional engineer at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Management.
Er Dhruva Thapa, former president of the CMA and programme coordinator, opened the event with a welcome speech and presented a short video on low‑cost concrete paver technology suitable for concrete pavement construction in Nepal. Training facilitator Er Arjun Jung Thapa then delivered a technical orientation on the introduction to rigid pavement and its relevance in Nepal.
Presenters noted that rigid pavement, constructed from cement concrete, distributes traffic loads over a wide area through slabs, making it effective in areas with weak subgrade, heavy vehicles, waterlogging and leakage. They said the use of rigid pavement is becoming increasingly relevant in Nepal because of the country’s geographical diversity, high rainfall, rising traffic volumes and the high maintenance costs of bituminous roads. Although initial costs are higher, the presentation emphasised that rigid pavement is a sustainable and economically beneficial option due to its long lifespan of about 30 years and lower lifecycle maintenance costs.
Delivering a special address, Er Narendra Subedi thanked the CMA for organising the training to enhance the capacity of engineers and sub‑engineers. He welcomed Nepal’s cement industry becoming self‑reliant and beginning exports to India, and expressed hope that the knowledge gained will be applied in practice to help construct quality, sustainable roads.
Chief guest Adhikari criticised the practice of awarding government construction contracts to the lowest bidder, saying it has negatively affected work quality. She said the training clarified the importance of design, construction processes and quality control, and emphasised that such capacity‑building programmes are highly necessary for local levels.
The programme closed with a vote of thanks from Arun Kumar Karna, treasurer of the CMA, followed by a brief presentation from President Maru titled 'Smart Choice for Concrete Pavement', which highlighted the long‑term economic, technical and environmental benefits of cement concrete roads.
The training is expected to enhance the capacity of technical personnel involved in developing quality, sustainable and long‑term road infrastructure in Nepal.
