IJ
IJCRM
International Journal of Contemporary Research in Multidisciplinary
ISSN: 2583-7397
Open Access • Peer Reviewed
Impact Factor: 5.67

International Journal of Contemporary Research In Multidisciplinary, 2026;5(2):73-82

Assessment of Haul Road Conditions and Their Impact on Productivity in Opencast Mines

Author Name: Sumeet Kishore;   Aman Kumar Verma;   Vicky Kumar;   Anshuman Bhengra;   Shivam Sagar;   Rupesh Kumar Mahato;   Vijay Sharma;   Anshu Kumar;  

1. Assistant Professor, Department of Mining Engineering, Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

2. Students, Department of Mining Engineering, Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

3. Students, Department of Mining Engineering, Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

4. Students, Department of Mining Engineering, Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

5. Students, Department of Mining Engineering, Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

6. Students, Department of Mining Engineering, Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

7. Students, Department of Mining Engineering, Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

8. Students, Department of Mining Engineering, Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

Paper Type: research paper
Article Information
Paper Received on: 2026-09-10
Paper Accepted on: 2026-10-17
Paper Published on: 2026-10-19
Abstract:

Haul roads are critical components of opencast mining operations because they directly influence the movement of ore, overburden, and other materials between excavation, processing, stockpiling, and dumping locations. The condition and geometric characteristics of haul roads significantly affect truck cycle time, fuel consumption, equipment availability, tyre wear, operating cost, and overall productivity. In particular, rolling resistance, road gradient, road width, surface defects, drainage, and deterioration influence the performance of haulage equipment. Poorly constructed or inadequately maintained haul roads increase rolling resistance and vehicle operating time, thereby reducing equipment productivity and increasing operating costs.

This study assesses the influence of haul-road condition, particularly rolling resistance and surface defects, on haulage performance in opencast mining. A hybrid quantitative methodology was adopted using secondary empirical data, equipment performance characteristics, road-condition parameters, and discrete-event simulation. Road-condition variables including rolling resistance, potholes, rutting, corrugation, loose material, and surface stoniness were considered in the assessment framework. Stochastic simulation scenarios were developed for different levels of rolling resistance to evaluate their influence on loading utilisation, queue time, number of truck cycles, and production.

The simulation results indicate that increasing rolling resistance adversely affects haulage performance. When rolling resistance increased from 2% to 6%, the number of simulated cycles decreased from 8277 to 7880, while production decreased from 753.2 kt to 717.1 kt. The results demonstrate that systematic haul-road construction, condition monitoring, drainage management, grading, compaction, and timely maintenance are essential for sustaining haulage efficiency. The study provides a practical framework for linking haul-road condition with equipment performance and mine productivity and highlights the importance of integrating haul-road maintenance into overall mine production planning.

Keywords:

Opencast mining; haul road; rolling resistance; road condition; productivity; truck cycle time; maintenance; discrete-event simulation; haulage efficiency.

How to Cite this Article:

Sumeet Kishore,Aman Kumar Verma,Vicky Kumar,Anshuman Bhengra,Shivam Sagar,Rupesh Kumar Mahato,Vijay Sharma,Anshu Kumar. Assessment of Haul Road Conditions and Their Impact on Productivity in Opencast Mines. International Journal of Contemporary Research in Multidisciplinary. 2026: 5(2):73-82


Download PDF