Pune: First highway built with bio-bitumen inaugurated in India; thousands of crore rupees saved
Pune: A highway has been built for the first time in the country using bio-bitumen. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated it on Thursday (December 26). National Highway 44, Nagpur-Mansar Bypass, has been built using bio-bitumen.
City-based Praj Industries developed the technology to produce bio-bitumen using raw lignin. Thus, the company has provided a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based bitumen.
A press release issued by Praj Industries stated that bio-bitumen could be blended with fossil fuel-based bitumen up to 15 pc. India needed 15 lakh tonne bio-bitumen to achieve that target. It was estimated that bio-bitumen could save the country’s foreign exchange up to Rs 4,500 crore.
If it happens, the country could take a transformatory step towards building sustainable and environment-friendly roads and infrastructure. Dr Pramod Chaudhari, Founder-Chairman of Praj said, “It is a moment of pride for us that India’s first sustainable road, built using lignin-based bio-bitumen, has been inaugurated. The innovative bio-bitumen will work as an alternative for the fossil fuel-based bitumen.”
Praj Industries successfully conducted the lignin-based bio-bitumen test, with the joint cooperation of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI). Bio-bitumen is blended up to 15 pc with traditional bitumen.
Praj Industries built a service road at Halol in Gujarat using bio-bitumen. It was inspected for two years and three rainy seasons by the CSIR, which recorded satisfactory findings. The successful test proved an important achievement in building the Nagpur-Mansar Bypass project.
What is bitumen?
Bitumen is a byproduct, which is produced after raw fossil fuel is purified. It is a black, sticky mixture of hydrocarbons. It binds all ingredients used in constructing roads. According to the official statistics provided by the Union Petroleum Ministry, 88 lakh tonne bitumen was used in the country during 2023-24. In the current FY 2024-25, its use is likely to increase up to 100 lakh tonnes. Half of this bitumen is imported, which costs around Rs 25,000-30,000 crore annually. Now, an alternative has been found to bitumen.
