IIT Roorkee professor proposes bio-bitumen road trial in Karnataka

An associate professor from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has written to the Karnataka government to construct a trial road section using bio-bitumen technology, claiming that the innovation could reduce road construction costs by up to 20% while offering environmental benefits.

The proposed bio-binder is produced by blending 25% Class C sugarcane molasses with 75% virgin bitumen through a controlled chemical reaction process. This will reduce the use of bitumen and also over-reliance on it.

According to Nikhil Saboo, associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee, he has been researching with a team and developing the technology for the past five years, with extensive laboratory investigations, performance testing, and field implementation already completed. The field implementation has also yielded positive results in other states, according to him.

The proposal has come at a time when the cost of bitumen has increased multifold following the West Asia crisis. The rate of bitumen is yet to stabilise, as it is still fluctuating around ₹60,000 per tonne, while the cost was ₹45,000 before the crisis began.

In addition, civic agencies in Bengaluru have been experimenting and adopting new technologies related to road construction. Recently, the B-SMILE announced that for the first time in Karnataka, Ultra High-Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) technology would be used to construct elevated corridors.

In a letter addressed to the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Chief Minister’s Office, Mr. Saboo sought the State government’s approval for a pilot project to demonstrate the viability of the technology.

Highlighting the economic advantages of the technology, Mr. Saboo said the use of sugarcane molasses, a by-product of the sugar industry, could reduce binder costs significantly. While virgin bitumen currently costs around ₹85 per kg, the price of molasses typically ranges between ₹10 and ₹15 per kg. Since no specialised infrastructure is required, the capital cost of adopting the technology would be none, he noted.

“The technology can be readily adopted using existing drum mix plant facilities without requiring any additional infrastructure,” the letter stated, adding that the key operational requirement is maintaining appropriate production temperatures during the mixing process.

The letter also pointed out that India is the world’s second-largest producer of sugarcane molasses, with annual production estimated at 13 to 14 million tonnes, ensuring adequate availability of the raw material.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Sahoo said the technology has already been tested in three field trials. Among them is a 650-metre test stretch on National Highway 709AD in Uttar Pradesh, constructed in November 2022. It also includes two stretches in Uttarakhand.

“The road section, which used bio-bitumen in the surface layer, has performed satisfactorily and remained maintenance-free for more than three years despite carrying traffic loads of nearly 200 million standard axles,” he said.

In the letter, the associate professor has also offered complete technical support from the research team at the IIT Roorkee for field implementation and performance evaluation of the proposed trial section in Karnataka. Citing the technology as sustainable and cost-effective, the professor requested the State government to consider an early pilot project to assess the technology’s practical feasibility under local conditions.

A government source close to the development told The Hindu that the PWD department was interested in the project and would discuss further about piloting the technology.