Praj Industries has unveiled India’s first national highway, utilising lignin-based biobitumen, a sustainable alternative to fossil-derived bitumen. The eco-friendly road spans the Nagpur-Mansar Bypass on NH-44 and achieves a milestone in sustainable infrastructure development.
Praj’s proprietary technology converts crude lignin into lignin bio-bitumen, achieving up to 15 per cent blending with conventional bitumen. This innovation reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 70 per cent and has the potential to save Rs 40-45 billion in foreign exchange annually, requiring 0.15 million tonnes of bio-bitumen for 15 per cent blending nationwide.
Developed in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), the material was rigorously tested in a pilot project in Halol, Gujarat, where it showed no distress after 2.5 years and three monsoons. The Nagpur-Mansar project underscores the transformative potential of turning agricultural waste into road construction materials, reducing imports and supporting India’s green energy goals.