Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addresses innovation in road construction, outlining incentives, policies, and research and development (R&D) initiatives. The Ministry collaborates with institutions like IITs and NITs to develop new materials and technologies. Noteworthy achievements include the development of Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines for road construction. The answer was provided on August 21st, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Research and Development Promotion:
* The government promotes need-based and futuristic research in the road sector through collaborations with academic institutions.
* MoUs have been signed with IIT Madras, IIT BHU, IIT Roorkee, and JNTU Anantpur to establish Chair professorships for collaboration, research, development, teaching, and training.
* A Center of Excellence for Road Safety has been established at IIT Madras.
* The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has established the Transportation Research and Innovation Hub (TRIHUB) at IIT Hyderabad.
* Hackathons are conducted to promote the research ecosystem.
Key Initiatives and Schemes:
* Data-driven practice guidebook on freight traffic forecasting.
* National facility for accelerated testing of pavements and vehicles (NATPaVeD).
* Use of bio-bitumen from agricultural waste and waste plastic in bituminous mixtures.
* Utilization of slag, construction and demolition wastes, municipal landfill inert material, and red mud bauxite residue in road construction.
* Application of geosynthetics in road construction.
* Evaluation of the impact of the electronic toll collection system on vehicular emissions.
* FASTag tolling, bridge health monitoring system, and development of an AI tool on e-DAR.
Notable Achievements and Outcomes:
* Development of Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines:
* Guidelines for High Performance Bituminous Mixes for High Volume Roads (IRC: SP: 139-2023).
* Guidelines for Design of Short Slab Concrete Pavements (IRC: SP: 140-2024).
Impact Analysis:
Research and Academic Institutions (IITs, NITs, CRRI, etc.):
* Impact: These institutions are key partners in conducting research, developing new technologies, and providing training in the road sector. They benefit from funding and collaborative opportunities.
* Action Required: Continue engaging in research projects, academic collaborations, and knowledge-sharing activities to advance innovation in road construction.
Road Construction and Transportation Industry:
* Impact: Benefits from new materials, technologies, and guidelines that improve the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of road construction and maintenance.
* Action Required: Adopt and implement new guidelines and technologies to enhance the quality and performance of road infrastructure.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):
* Impact: Plays a crucial role in promoting research and innovation through initiatives like TRIHUB and implementing new technologies in highway development.
* Action Required: Continue to support and expand research and innovation initiatives to improve road infrastructure.
Innovators and Researchers:
* Impact: Provides incentives and platforms like hackathons to encourage innovation in the road sector.
* Action Required: Participate in research initiatives and competitions, developing new solutions to improve road construction and safety.
Citizens and Commuters:
* Impact: Benefit from safer, more efficient, and sustainable road infrastructure.
* Action Required: Adhere to traffic regulations and utilize new technologies such as FASTag for smoother travel experiences.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways network.
SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways.
Central Road Research Institute (CRRI): A research and academic institution involved in road sector research.
IIT Madras: Indian Institute of Technology Madras, an academic institute collaborating with the ministry for research and development and the location of a Center of Excellence for Road Safety.
IIT BHU: Indian Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University, an academic institute collaborating with the ministry for research and development.
IIT Roorkee: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, an academic institute collaborating with the ministry for research and development.
JNTU, Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh: Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Anantapur, an academic institute collaborating with the ministry for research and development.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): An agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4720
ANSWERED ON 21ST AUGUST, 2025
INNOVATION IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION
4720. SHRI MADHAVANENI RAGHUNANDAN RAO:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the incentives and policies being implemented to promote
Research and Development (R&D) in the road sector in the country;
(b) the key initiatives and schemes that have been successful in
driving innovation and growth; and
(c) the notable achievements and outcomes of these efforts?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
undertakes need-based and futuristic research to identify and
develop new materials, processes, innovative technology in the
road sector. The research works are undertaken through research
and academic institutions of repute and excellence such as
IITs/NITs/ Central Road Research Institute (CRRI). The research
schemes cover different aspects such as planning, design,
construction, operation and maintenance of roads, bridges, tunnels,
etc.Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with
different academic institutes namely IIT Madras, IIT BHU, IIT
Roorkee and JNTU, Anantpur to establish Chairprofessor for
academic collaboration, research & development, teaching and
training in the area of development of highway sector. Also a Center
of Excellence for Road Safety has been established at IIT Madras to
work on development of new products, capacity building,
knowledge sharing, collaborations, research and strategic
initiatives focused towards improving road safety and reducing road
fatalities in the Country. National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI) has also established Transportation Research and Innovation
Hub (TRIHUB) - a Center of Excellence (CoE) at IIT Hyderabad.
Hackathon has also been conducted to promote research eco-
system and winner certificates have been awarded as an incentive
to the innovators.
(b) The key initiatives and schemes that have been undertaken in
driving innovation and growth are data-driven practice guidebook
on mid-term and long-term freight traffic forecasting, national
facility for accelerated testing of pavements and vehicle
(NATPaVeD), bio-bitumen from agricultural waste, utilisation of
waste plastic in bituminous mixtures, use of slag and construction
and demolition wastes including municipal landfill inert material,
use of red mud (bauxite residue) for embankment construction,
application of geosynthetics in road construction, evaluation of
impact of electronic toll collection system on vehicular emissions,
FASTag tolling, bridge health monitoring system, development of AI
tool on e- DAR, etc.
(c) The notable successful achievements and outcomes of these
efforts in the recent past are development of Indian Roads Congress
(IRC) guidelines such as Guidelines for High Performance
Bituminous Mixes for High Volume Roads IRC: SP: 139-2023 and
Guidelines for Design of Short Slab Concrete Pavements IRC: SP:
140-2024.
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