Associate professor from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee wants to test a new road construction method in Karnataka using bio-bitumen. This could cut costs by up to 20% and is environmentally friendly. He's been working on it for five years,now asking state government to green-light a pilot project.
This bio-binder mixes 25% Class C sugarcane molasses with 75% virgin bitumen. Cuts down on traditional bitumen use, tackles rising costs . Bitumen now costs around ₹60,000 per tonne,up from ₹45,000 before West Asia crisis. Proposal comes as construction industry faces these high costs .
In a letter to Public Works Department (PWD) and Chief Minister’s Office,professor stressed economic sense of using sugarcane molasses—a sugar industry by-product. Virgin bitumen costs about ₹85 per kg, molasses cheaper at ₹10-₹15 per kg . No special infrastructure needed; can fit into current drum mix plants.
“Technology can be adopted with existing facilities,no extra infrastructure required,” he wrote. Key is maintaining right temperatures during mixing.
India,world’s second-largest producer of sugarcane molasses, churns out 13-14 million tonnes yearly. Professor already tested tech in three trials,including 650-meter stretch on National Highway 709AD in Uttar Pradesh finished in November 2022,plus two in Uttarakhand. Bio-bitumen road has held up well,maintenance-free for over three years,handling traffic of nearly 200 million standard axles.
Given these results,professor offers technical support from IIT Roorkee team for trial in Karnataka. Urges state to start pilot to gauge tech’s viability locally.
Meanwhile,civic bodies in Bengaluru eyeing new road tech. B-SMILE initiative recently announced plans to use Ultra High-Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) for elevated corridors—big move for modernizing regional infrastructure.
Professor's bio-bitumen pitch aims to slash costs and boost sustainability in road building,matching broader green goals . As talks progress,will state take the plunge into this new road-building method?
