Lok Sabha Question No. 4720 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Innovation in Road Construction
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Madhavaneni Raghunandan Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4720 ANSWERED ON 21 ST  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 as IITs/NITs/  Central  Road  Research  Institute  (CRRI).  The  research design, construction, operation and maintenance of roads, bridges, tunnels,
- and academic  institutions of repute and excellence such schemes cover different aspects such as planning, 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  ecosystem 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 Performance Bituminous  Mixes  for  High  Volume  Roads  IRC:  SP:  139-2023  and Guidelines  for  Design  of  Short  Slab  Concrete  Pavements  IRC:  SP:

(IRC) guidelines such as Guidelines for High 140-2024.

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