India has been witnessing a rise in infrastructure projects and construction activities over the past few years. With the increasing focus on ensuring the quality and durability of projects, the need for materials that cater to these requirements has been on the rise. In this regard, the use of geosynthetics has been gaining traction. Various types of geosynthetics have made headway into infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, ports, airports and water systems to provide structural stability and address geotechnical problems. Geosynthetics also serve key functions in tunnelling and mining projects for improving structural integrity and waterproofing. With the applications of these products diversifying, the integration of technology and natural materials has also shaped the growth of the sector.
Overview
Geosynthetic products have proven to be vital for solving geotechnical hindrances. Different types of geosynthetics, including geotextiles, geocells, geogrids, geomembranes and geonets, are being adopted in various construction and infrastructure projects. They serve key functions such as stabilisation, erosion control, drainage, filtration and reinforcement. The use of geosynthetics is also known to increase the lifespan of projects, enhance quality and durability, and be comparatively cost-effective.
Due to these benefits, India has seen a surge in the deployment of geosynthetics over the years across various urban infrastructure projects. The demand has been driven by rising construction activity in urban infrastructure projects and the need for alternative materials that are sustainable. Western states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat are leading in the production of geosynthetics, and its production in other regions of the country is also gaining traction.
Rising demand from infrastructure projects
India has seen a significant rise in the construction and expansion of roads, railway lines, and port and airport infrastructure. These activities take place across various geological, topological and soil conditions, and the use of geosynthetics has proved beneficial in addressing challenges that arise. These materials strengthen weak soil strata, provide reinforcement and stability in difficult terrain, and tackle erosion. Additionally, they are a highly effective solution for drainage-related issues.
Road projects, in particular, widely use geosynthetics, given its ability to extend the life and durability of the asset. Geotextiles can aid in increasing the life of pavements by 30-50 years. The beneficial properties of geosynthetics have also led to its demand from railway projects. Geotextiles can be used on track formations as a blanketing layer, and also on slopes to combat soil erosion. Applications also include stabilising railway track beds and making ground improvements.
Strata Global has deployed advanced geosynthetics technology for the construction of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway, with the project spanning over 1,300 km. The company has used geosynthetics in parts of the retaining walls and for erosion control. In terms of benefits, the reinforcement system StrataWall EC has lesser steel requirements, leading to cost savings and a reduction in carbon emissions. The use of StrataWeb, in addition to being an effective erosion control solution, has enabled carbon savings of around 20 per cent.
Increased adoption in water-based applications
Innovative measures have been adopted to meet water treatment and rainwater harvesting needs. Geotubes are being used in desilting projects. In a recent development, a geotube system was used to desilt 25,000 cubic metres of silt from the Pillur dam in Tamil Nadu. In this process, water containing sediments are pumped into geotubes where sediments are consolidated over time. The process has several advantages, including expediting the desilting process and reducing disruptions to the ecosystem. More recently, the geotube technology was used to clean waste from around 23 untapped drains in Prayagraj. Further, around 3,660 million litres per day of water was treated and released into the Ganga river between January 1, 2025 and February 4, 2025. The daily average stands at 100-130 million litres.
Geosynthetics have also been employed in rainwater harvesting and water conservation projects. In December 2024, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) announced plans to construct 139 modular water harvesting pits. As of December 2024, the NDMC areas had a rainwater harvesting pit count of 357. The modular systems have prefabricated polymer-based blocks, which are placed in an interlocked configuration around the borewell pipe, with the system having a total of three chambers. The entire system has been wrapped in a geotextile fabric to restrict the entry of soil into the system. Rainwater harvesting projects have also deployed geosynthetics, where geomembranes are used for water storage and tanks.
Additionally, geosynthetics such as geo bags have been used to mitigate soil erosion at water embankments. In a measure to combat river erosion, a geobag installation project was launched along the Brahmaputra river in Dibrugarh. The bags were made with a blend of woven polyester and polypropylene fabrics, and have been filled with sand and river silt. These geo bags serve as resistance walls, diverting floodwater and promoting natural vegetation growth.
Government intervention
The government has placed increased focus on promoting the use of geosynthetics across projects. In 2023, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, developed guidelines to enhance the construction of hill road infrastructure. These would especially apply to regions such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the north-eastern region. One of the guidelines specifies the use of advanced technologies such as geosynthetics for slope protection and embankment construction in these areas.
Technical textiles as a whole, which include geotextiles, have gained notable importance over the years. According to industry estimates, the Indian domestic technical textile market stands at around $25 billion and is projected to reach $40 billion by 2030. As per targets, the central government aims to export technical textiles worth $10 billion under the National Technical Textiles Mission. Current exports stand between $2 billion and $3 billion.
With the aim to improve safety at construction sites, the Ministry of Textiles issued quality control orders (QCOs) for geotextiles, industrial textiles, ropes and cordages in October 2024. The QCOs ensure uniform quality measures and that safety and performance standards are maintained. It will also aid in ensuring consistency and reliability during material selection. The QCOs are expected to come into effect soon.
Emphasis has also been placed on improving research and development (R&D) in the sector. Under the Grant for Research and Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles, the Empowered Programme Committee has approved around Rs 64 million for IIT Guwahati. Among other developments, the laboratory infrastructure will be upgraded to enhance capabilities in technical textiles, especially geosynthetics.
Sustainability trends
Natural geotextiles are those that are made of fibres such as jute and coir. The development of these natural fibre geotextiles has gained increasing recognition. Coir geotextiles made from coir yarn have applications in landscaping and geotechnical engineering. They offer benefits such as biodegradability, high porosity and high moisture retention. Geotextiles made from jute fabric also have notable benefits such as the ability to absorb moisture and being economical. Like traditional geotextiles, natural geotextiles are used for slope stabilisation, preventing soil erosion and strengthening surfaces. Positive pushes have also been seen from the government’s side where coir geotextiles were promoted for the construction of rural roads.
Outlook
Geosynthetics have seen widespread application across various construction projects in the country. However, their deployment is not at the expected level. The cost of materials and limited skilled workforce also leads to setbacks. Although these challenges exist, the geosynthetics market is poised to witness notable growth in the future.
The quantity and magnitude of infrastructure projects are expected to rise to meet growing demand. Future highway projects would soon be approved under the Vision 2047 roadmap. As part of the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the maritime sector is expected to witness notable investments and targets to increase the capacity at ports to over 10,000 million tonnes per annum. Further, the number of airports is targeted to reach 350-400 by 2047. With the focus on the need for sustainable and long-lasting structures, these projects are expected to drive the demand for geosynthetics. Additional incentives and initiatives from the government will also boost the adoption of these materials. Apart from this, ongoing R&D in new technologies and geosynthetic applications is expected to drive broader adoption and support future growth
