CSIR Transfers Indigenous Bio-Bitumen Technology for Sustainable Roads

In a significant step towards sustainable and circular infrastructure development, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has successfully organised a Technology Transfer Event for its innovative technology titled “Bio-Bitumen from Lignocellulosic Biomass – From Farm Residue to Roads,” to industry for large-scale adoption. The technology has been jointly developed by the Central Road Research Institute and the Indian Institute of Petroleum for adoption by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for road construction in the country.

The technology enables the production of bio-bitumen from agricultural residues, offering a renewable, low-carbon alternative to conventional petroleum-based bitumen used in road construction. This breakthrough directly addresses the twin national challenges of rising pollution due to agricultural waste management issues and rising imports due to the shortage of bitumen for road infrastructure development. Speaking at the Technology Transfer Ceremony, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, 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.

Officials highlighted that the adoption of bio-bitumen aligns strongly with India’s climate commitments, Net Zero targets, and flagship initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, the National Bio-Energy Mission, and circular economy frameworks. The use of farm residue for high-value infrastructure applications also offers additional income opportunities for farmers while reducing stubble burning and environmental pollution. The bio-bitumen technology has demonstrated promising performance in terms of durability, compatibility with conventional bitumen, and a reduced carbon footprint, making it suitable for large-scale implementation in national highway projects.

CSIR reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with MoRTH to support field trials, standardisation, and capacity building, ensuring smooth integration of the technology into mainstream road construction practices. This technology transfer underscores CSIR’s role as a national knowledge partner in enabling sustainable infrastructure innovation and reflects MoRTH’s proactive approach towards adopting green, indigenous, and future-ready technologies for India’s expanding road network. The event witnessed the presence of senior officials from MoRTH, CSIR leadership, scientists, industry stakeholders, and policymakers. The transfer of technology marks a major milestone in translating laboratory-scale innovation into real-world, field-ready solutions for India’s road sector.