**Executive Summary**
This report details the technological contributions of the CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) to India's road and transport sector over the last three years. It highlights the development of sustainable "Waste-to-Wealth" infrastructure solutions and the completion of a noise mapping study for the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) involving Rajkot and other cities. The government confirms ongoing support for CSIR-CRRI through funding and laboratory modernization to promote technology commercialization and road safety.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Sustainable Pavement Materials and Waste Valorization**
* **Steel Slag Technologies:** ECOFIX uses processed steel slag for rapid pothole repairs in 11 states, while Steel Slag Valorization serves as a high-strength substitute for natural aggregates on major highways like NH-66 and NH-53.
* **Bio-Bitumen (KrishiBind):** A renewable binder produced from rice straw to curb stubble burning and improve highway moisture resistance.
* **Recycled Plastic:** Development of modular road components (End-of-Life Plastic Modules) and Geocell technology for strengthening pavement layers.
* **Advanced Recycling and Rejuvenation**
* **Bitumen Refreshing:** REJUPAVE and REJUBIT use bio-based modifiers to recycle aged bituminous pavements, specifically aiding low-temperature paving in regions like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
* **Thin Surfacing:** TERASURFACING utilizes industrial wastes (fly ash, marble dust) for urban road maintenance, notably implemented in Surat.
* **Mechanization and Specialized Maintenance**
* **Automated Repair:** Deployment of PatchFILL (indigenous pothole-filling machine) and Mobile Cold Mixer-cum-Paver (MCMP) for on-site paving in remote terrains.
* **Structural Stabilization:** Use of specialized cementitious materials (BSS101 and CGBR101) for soil stabilization across diverse climates, from Mumbai to Leh.
* **Traffic Management and Noise Mitigation**
* **Noise Barriers:** Installation of patented frequency-based barriers along Delhi road corridors to mitigate urban noise.
* **Rajkot Case Study:** While no comprehensive mobility study was conducted for Rajkot, a noise mapping and mitigation study for Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot was completed and submitted in March 2026.
* **Safety Solutions:** Implementation of intelligent transport solutions like iRASTE to improve traffic management and road safety.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI)**
**Impact**
The institute receives continued government funding, laboratory modernization, and support for collaborative research and technology commercialization.
**Action Required**
Continue advanced research in sustainable materials, pavement recycling, and intelligent transport systems while facilitating technology transfers to industry.
**Stakeholder: Implementing Agencies (NHAI, BRO, and State PWDs)**
**Impact**
These agencies gain access to cost-effective, sustainable technologies for road construction in challenging terrains and high-traffic corridors.
**Action Required**
Facilitate field-level implementation, conduct pilot projects, and adopt CSIR-CRRI technologies for national and state highway projects.
**Stakeholder: Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB)**
**Impact**
The board has received a comprehensive "Noise Mapping and Mitigation Plan" for four major cities to ensure compliance with Noise Pollution Rules, 2000.
**Action Required**
Review the final report submitted by CSIR-CRRI to implement noise mitigation strategies in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot.
**Stakeholder: Industrial Partners**
**Impact**
Industries benefit from the transfer of patented technologies for commercialization, such as pothole-repair mixes and noise barrier systems.
**Action Required**
Collaborate with CSIR-CRRI for the commercial production and wider adoption of "Waste-to-Wealth" infrastructure solutions.
Key Entities Referenced
CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI): The primary research institute responsible for developing sustainable road construction technologies, pothole repair solutions, and conducting urban mobility and noise pollution studies.
Noise Pollution Rules, 2000: The regulatory framework cited for the noise mapping and mitigation study conducted in major cities including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot.
Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB): The state-level regulatory body that funded and commissioned the noise pollution identification and mitigation project for Gujarat's major urban centers.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): A national rural road development scheme where CSIR-CRRI's cold-mix surfacing technology (MSS+) is implemented across multiple districts.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): A key federal agency facilitating the field-level implementation of CSIR-CRRI’s sustainable infrastructure technologies on national highway corridors.
Ministry of Science & Technology
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Technological
Contributions of CSIR–CRRI and Traffic
Management Studies for Rajkot
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 3:49PM by PIB Delhi
CSIR–Central Road Research Institute has developed and implemented several technologies and solutions
in the road and transport sector during the last three years. These include: Steel Slag Road Technology for
sustainable road construction using steel industry by-products; ECOFIX, a ready-to-use pothole repair
material for rapid maintenance; Modified Mix Seal Surfacing (MSS+) for sustainable road construction;
PATCHFILL, a mechanized pothole repair machine for efficient pothole repairs; Mobile Cold Mixer-cum-
Paver (MCMP) for on-site preparation and laying of cold bituminous mixes; REJUBIT and REJUPAVE
for rejuvenation and recycling of aged bituminous pavements; Plastic Waste-based Geocell Technology for
strengthening pavement layers; and frequency-based noise barrier technology for mitigation of traffic
noise in urban corridors. In addition, CSIR-CRRI has been undertaking comprehensive mobility plans,
traffic and transportation studies, road safety audits and intelligent transport solutions such as iRASTE for
improving traffic management and road safety. Some of these technologies have been transferred to
industries for commercialization, while their field-level implementation has been facilitated in
collaboration with agencies such as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Border Roads
Organisation (BRO) and various State Public Works Departments (PWDs). The brief details of the
aforesaid technologies are at Annexure – I.
Although CSIR-CRRI has not conducted comprehensive traffic and mobility studies for Rajkot and its
surrounding areas, the institute recently completed a sponsored project focusing on noise pollution in the
city. The project was funded by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and launched in September
2022. The study titled "Noise Mapping, Identification of Hotspots Violating Prescribed Norms and
Mitigation Plan for Ensuring Compliance with Noise Pollution Rules, 2000" covered four major cities,
namely, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot. The final report has been submitted to GPCB.
The Government continues to support and strengthen the research and technological capabilities of CSIR–
Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) through funding support, modernization of laboratory and
testing facilities, promotion of collaborative and sponsored research with Central and State agencies, and
encouragement of technology development and commercialization. Efforts are also being made to
facilitate pilot projects, field demonstrations and wider adoption of CSIR-CRRI technologies by industry
and implementing agencies, while promoting advanced research in areas such as sustainable road
materials, pavement recycling, traffic and mobility studies, intelligent transport systems and road safety.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent charge) for the Ministry of Science and
Technology & Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.*******
NKR/AK/NM
Annexure - I
The CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) has spearheaded several "Waste-to-Wealth" and
sustainable infrastructure technologies over the last three years. The brief summary of these achievements
and their field-level implementation by Indian agencies is as under:
Sustainable Pavement Materials & Waste Valorization
S.No. Technology Implementation
1. ECOFIX (Steel Slag Pothole Mix): A Used for rapid/monsoon repairs across 11
ready-to-use repair mix using processed Indian states (including Delhi, Maharashtra,
steel slag and Tamil Nadu) and exported to Chicago,
USA
2. Steel Slag Valorization: Processes Large-scale adoption in NH-66 (Mumbai–
industrial steel slag as a high-strength Goa), NH-53 (Gujarat), and strategic Border
substitute for natural stone aggregates Roads in Arunachal Pradesh
3. KrishiBind (Bio-Bitumen): Produces a Tested on NH-6 (Meghalaya) and NH-44
renewable binder from agricultural waste (Maharashtra) to improve moisture resistance
(rice straw) to curb stubble burning in highways
4. End-of-Life Plastic Modules: Modular Demonstration sections at the DND–KMP
road components made from recycled Expressway and an Indian Army camp in Leh
plastic
Advanced Recycling & Rejuvenation Technologies
5. REJUPAVE & REJUBIT: Bio-based REJUPAVE is widely used by the BRO for
modifiers that "refresh" aged bitumen, low-temperature paving in Ladakh and
allowing for high-percentage Reclaimed Arunachal Pradesh. REJUBIT has covered 140
Asphalt Pavement (RAP) usage km of high-traffic corridors like the Chennai–
Tirupati section
6. TERASURFACING: Thin surfacing using Commercialized and implemented in Surat,
industrial wastes (slag, fly ash, marble dust) Gujarat for sustainable urban road
maintenance
Specialized Surfacing & Stabilization7. MSS+ & MACROSURFACING: Cold- MSS+ is active in PMGSY projects across five
mix surfacing for rural roads (MSS+) and districts in UP; MACROSURFACING is used
preventive maintenance for concrete roads for rapid restoration of concrete pavements in
(MACROSURFACING) Uttar Pradesh
8. BSS101 & CGBR101: Specialized BSS101 used in NH sections near Kanpur and
cementitious materials for soil stabilization Shimla; CGBR101 (Cement Grouted
and "semi-rigid" composite pavements Bituminous Mix) has been laid over 200 km in
diverse climates from Mumbai (high rain) to
Leh (extreme cold)
Mechanization & Noise Mitigation
9. PatchFILL (Machine & Mix): An Machines deployed in Kerala and Delhi; Two-
indigenous pothole-filling machine and a pack mix utilized by Pune Municipal
two-pack quick-setting cold mix Corporation and on the Delhi–Mathura Road
10. Mobile Cold Mixer-cum-Paver (MCMP): Prototype provided to the BRO for road works
A mobile unit for on-site paving in remote in the difficult terrains of Uttarakhand and
areas Himachal Pradesh
11. Frequency-Based Noise Barriers: Currently being installed along major road
Patented barriers tailored to specific traffic corridors in Delhi to mitigate urban noise
noise frequencies pollution
******
(Release ID: 2241754) Visitor Counter : 71
Read this release in: ही