New Delhi, January 7: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that agricultural waste can be transformed into a valuable national resource through the production of bio-bitumen, calling it a transformative step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Speaking at the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony titled “From Farm Residue to Road: Bio-Bitumen via Pyrolysis”, the Minister said the initiative would help address the twin challenges of pollution and energy dependence by utilising agro-residue that would otherwise be burnt. He noted that with a 15 per cent blending of bio-bitumen, India could save nearly ₹4,500 crore in foreign exchange while significantly reducing its reliance on imported crude oil.
Mr Gadkari described the development as a historic milestone for India’s road infrastructure, as the country has become the first in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen. He congratulated the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and its scientists for the breakthrough and thanked Union Minister of State Mr Jitendra Singh for his continued support in enabling the achievement.
Highlighting its broader impact, the Minister said the innovation would empower farmers by creating new markets for agricultural waste, generate rural livelihoods, and strengthen the rural economy. He added that bio-bitumen reflects the Government’s commitment to sustainable development, circular economy principles and self-reliance, while contributing to environmentally responsible growth.
According to Mr Gadkari, the adoption of bio-bitumen in road construction will pave the way for a cleaner and greener future, aligning infrastructure development with India’s climate and sustainability goals.
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