PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Technological Contributions of CSIR–CRRI and Traffic Management Studies for Rajkot

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

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