NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge) Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said that India has entered an era of "Clean, Green Highways" following the successful technology transfer of "Bio-Bitumen via Pyrolysis: From Farm Residue to Roads".
The technology is an indigenous innovation jointly developed by CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi, and CSIR–Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP), Dehradun. Speaking at the technology transfer event held here on Wednesday, Dr Singh said that roads built using this technology would require a lower budget while offering a longer and more sustainable lifespan.
He added that the innovation would also eliminate the risk of environmental pollution. "India’s highways are now transitioning from fossil-fuel dependency to bio-driven, regenerative, and circular economy solutions," he said.
Singh said that shifting to indigenous bio-bitumen could replace imported bitumen worth Rs 25,000–30,000 crore annually. "This day will go down in the 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'," he said.
Describing the initiative as a whole-of-science, whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, he said it reflected the "Whole-of-Nation approach envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for building a Viksit Bharat". He underlined that technologies such as bio-bitumen show how scientific research can directly support national missions such as cleanliness, Atmanirbhar Bharat and economic self-reliance.
Emphasising communication and outreach, he said innovations must be explained in ways that allow wider understanding and adoption by stakeholders. Dr Singh further said that while each of CSIR’s 37 laboratories has its own success stories, the past decade has focused on opening science to citizens, industry and state governments.
Referring to the waste-to-wealth approach, he noted that bio-bitumen tackles several challenges at once, including stubble management, environmental protection and reduced dependence on imports. He pointed out that India currently imports nearly 50 per cent of its bitumen requirement, and that innovations such as bio-bitumen would significantly reduce foreign dependence while strengthening domestic capacity.
He also said that a 100-metre trial stretch using bio-bitumen has already been successfully laid on the Jorabat–Shillong Expressway (NH-40) in Meghalaya, demonstrating its feasibility on the ground. "A patent for the technology has been filed, and multiple industries have been onboarded for commercial deployment," he said.
Congratulating the CSIR team, the Minister described the bio-bitumen innovation as a globally significant breakthrough. He again highlighted the economic potential of replacing imported bitumen worth Rs 25,000–30,000 crore annually and called for region-specific, resource-based research.
Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR, N Kalaiselvi, described the occasion as a proud moment for Indian science. She said India has become the first country in the world to take bio-bitumen technology to industrial and commercial scale within the same year.
She explained that pyrolysis of biomass produces several valuable outputs, including a bio-binder for roads, energy-efficient gaseous fuel, bio-pesticide fractions and high-grade carbon suitable for batteries, water purification and advanced materials. She said the process is emission-free, cost-effective and future-ready, and proposed policy-level blending of bio-bitumen to enable nationwide deployment.
The event was attended by senior leadership from CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP, former directors, scientists, industry partners and media representatives, highlighting the strong collaboration between science, government and industry.
