Praj Industries Introduces India’s First Sustainable Road with Bio-Bitumen

Praj Industries, a leading Indian biotech company, has launched the country’s first sustainable road made with lignin-based bio-bitumen. This eco-friendly road, part of the Nagpur-Mansar Bypass on NH 44, was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways. The new technology partially replaces fossil-based bitumen, making this the first national highway in India built with such sustainable material.

Praj’s innovative process turns crude lignin into bio-bitumen, which can replace up to 15% of traditional bitumen used in road construction. This results in significant benefits, including a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil-based alternatives. If this bio-bitumen is blended at 15% nationwide, India would need about 15 lakh tons of it, potentially saving ₹4,000-4,500 crore in foreign exchange annually.

Minister Nitin Gadkari praised Praj Industries and its collaboration with the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) for developing this technology. He highlighted that the bio-bitumen not only reduces dependency on imports but also turns agricultural waste into a valuable resource. He added that, in the future, farmers will play a dual role as food and energy producers, contributing to a cleaner, greener India.

Praj and CSIR-CRRI tested the bio-bitumen by building a service road in Halol, Gujarat. After 2.5 years and three monsoon seasons, the road showed no damage, proving the material’s durability. This success laid the foundation for the Nagpur-Mansar Bypass project.

Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, called the inauguration of the bio-bitumen road a proud moment for the company and the nation. He emphasized that this innovation supports India’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives while saving foreign exchange. Dr. Chaudhari also mentioned Praj’s work in developing bio-hydrogen, which has the potential to revolutionize India’s energy sector.

Bitumen, made from crude oil, is essential for road construction, but India’s increasing demand for it requires a sustainable alternative. In 2023-24, India used 88 lakh tons of bitumen, and this is expected to grow to 100 lakh tons in 2024-25. Currently, about 50% of the bitumen is imported, costing ₹25,000-30,000 crore annually. Praj’s bio-bitumen offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution to meet this growing demand while reducing environmental impact.