“Farmers in Vidarbha region will become fuel producer along with being food producer, giving them more economic benefit from the same crop,” said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, while speaking at the inauguration of India’s first sustainable road as part of Nagpur - Mansar bypass project on National Highway 44 near Mansar, constructed using Bio-Bitumen developed by Praj Industries, in a programme held at Mansar on Saturday.

 

Atul Mule, President, Praj Industries; Kamlesh Chaturvedi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highway; Manoranjan Parida, Director, Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI); R P Singh, Chief General Manager, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI); and Dr Pramod Kumbhar, Chief Technical Officer, Praj Industries were present in the programme. Nitin Gadkari, in his address, reiterated his vision of making India a fuel exporting country rather than fuel importing country. He said, “Vidarbha region has huge production of paddy. The rice straw remaining after the cutting of the crop is burnt by farmers. Instead, the rice straw can be used to produce bio-CNG. Lignin is the by-product that remains after production of bio-CNG from rice straw. Praj Industries, in association with CSIR-CRRI, has developed a technology that refines crude Lignin into Bio-Bitumen that can be used for construction of road in the country.”

 

Bitumen is a key adhesive in the construction of road. The country needs approximately ninety thousand tonnes of Bitumen every year, out of which, approximately fifty thousand tonnes Bitumen is imported. “The Bitumen imported currently in the country is conventional fossil-based bitumen. Roads constructed with Lignin bio-bitumen, blended at up to 15 per cent, can achieve a 70 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emission, and also is 40 per cent better than conventional fossil-based bitumen,” explained Gadkari. The Union Minister also emphasised the economic benefits of bio-bitumen production in the region. He said, “The production of bio-bitumen by farmers in the region will give them additional source of income. The transporters will also get employment by transporting rice straw to the industry. The Bitumen can also be produced through processing Bamboo, that can generate additional income source for the youths in the region.” The programme also featured signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Praj industries and Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI). At the outset, Atul Mule delivered the welcome address.

 

He recalled the challenge of economic utilisation of Lignin produced during bio-ethanol production given by Nitin Gadkari to Praj Industries, during inauguration of bio-ethanol production plant of Praj Industries with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Dr Sidharth Pal, Principal Scientist, Praj Industries, explained the technical side of the bio-bitumen production through audio-visual presentation. Dr Ambika Behl, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-CRRI, in her address, assured the Union Minister that, CRRI will work to increase production and utilisation of bio-bitumen throughout the country. She also appealed the Road Transport and Highways Ministry to come out with a policy, encouraging use of bio-bitumen during road construction. Aasawari Deshpande conducted the proceedings, while R P Singh proposed a vote of thanks.