Agricultural Waste in Road Construction

This day will go down in history as India enters into an era of ‘Clean, Green Highways’, with the successful Technology Transfer titled “Bio-Bitumen via Pyrolysis: From Farm Residue to Roads”, an indigenous innovation developed by CSIR‑Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi and CSIR‑Indian Institute of Petroleum Dehradun (CSIR-IIP).

India’s Minister of State for Science & Technology, and Vice-President, CSIR, Dr Jitendra Singh, while addressing the Technology Transfer ceremony titled “Bio-Bitumen via Pyrolysis: From Farm Residue to Roads”, said the day would be remembered as a historic milestone.

He highlighted that India’s highways are transitioning from fossil-fuel dependence to bio-driven, regenerative, and circular-economy solutions. Using agricultural waste in road construction will require a lower budget, have a longer, more sustainable lifespan, and avoid environmental pollution.

The Minister underlined that technologies such as bio-bitumen demonstrate how scientific research can directly serve national missions, including cleanliness, Atmanirbhar Bharat and economic self-reliance.

Referring to the waste-to-wealth approach, he noted that bio-bitumen addresses multiple challenges simultaneously, from stubble management and environmental protection to import reduction.

He noted that India currently imports nearly 50% of its bitumen requirements, and innovations such as bio-bitumen could significantly reduce its dependence on imports while strengthening domestic capabilities.

The event showcased the industrial-scale transfer of bio-bitumen production technology through the pyrolysis of agricultural residues. The process involves collecting post-harvest rice straw, palletising it, pyrolysis to produce bio-oil, and subsequent blending with conventional bitumen.

Extensive laboratory validation has demonstrated that 20–30% of conventional bitumen can be safely replaced without compromising performance.

The technology has undergone physical, rheological, chemical, and mechanical characterisation, including tests for rutting, cracking, moisture damage, and resilient modulus.

A 100-metre trial stretch using bio-bitumen has already been successfully laid on the Jorabat–Shillong Expressway (NH-40) in Meghalaya, confirming field-level feasibility. A patent for the technology has been filed, and multiple industries have been onboarded for commercial deployment.

While congratulating the CSIR team, the Minister described the bio-bitumen innovation as a globally significant breakthrough. He highlighted the economic potential of replacing imported bitumen worth ₹25,000–30,000 crore annually and called for region-specific, resource-based research.

The Minister also shared insights from his experience in deploying alternative materials such as steel slag, waste plastic, and bio-fuels in road construction, stressing that proven technology, economic viability, raw material availability, and marketability must converge for successful scale-up. He assured full institutional support for integrating bio-bitumen into national highway standards.

India’s Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Mr Nitin Gadkari, highlighted how agricultural waste can be converted into a valuable national resource. He noted that bio-bitumen is a transformative step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

By utilising agro-waste, it reduces pollution caused by crop burning and strengthens the circular economy. With 15% blending, India can save nearly ₹4,500 crore in foreign exchange and substantially reduce its dependence on imported crude oil.

Mr Gadkari stated, Today marks a historic milestone in India’s road infrastructure, as the nation becomes the first in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen.

Mr Gadkari further stated that this innovation will empower farmers, generate rural livelihoods, and boost the rural economy. Bio-bitumen, he said, reflects the Modi Government’s commitment to sustainable development, self-reliance, and environmentally responsible growth, paving the way for a cleaner, greener future.

Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, N. Kalaiselvi, termed the occasion a proud moment for Indian science, noting that India has become the first country in the world to bring bio-bitumen technology to the industrial and commercial scale within the same year.

She explained that pyrolysis of biomass yields multiple value streams, bio-binder for roads, energy-efficient gaseous fuel, bio-pesticide fractions, and high-grade carbon suitable for batteries, water purification, and advanced materials, making the process emission-free, cost-effective, and future-ready. She also proposed policy-level blending of bio-bitumen to enable pan-India deployment.

The event was attended by senior leadership from CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP, former directors and scientists, industry partners, and media representatives, reflecting a strong partnership among science, government, and industry.

The Technology Transfer Event reinforced India’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure, indigenous innovation, and a bio-driven economic future, firmly positioning the nation on the path of clean, green and self-reliant highways.