The Union Transport Minister today inaugurated India’s First National Highway constructed using Bio- Bitumen material in Nagpur-Mansar Bypass project of National Highway 44 in Nagpur District. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Gadkari said that this eco-friendly road construction will reduce the cost of road construction, generate employment and curb pollution due to stubble burning. This is the first national highway in the country built using bitumen made from crop residues -lignin. This road made from bio-bitumen is 40 percent stronger than a traditional asphalt road, and by mixing 15 percent bio-bitumen in the asphalt, a 1-kilometre-long stretch has been constructed in the Nagpur-Mansar National Highway project. This road is constructed by joint collaboration of Central Road Research Institute -CRRI and Pune-based biotech firm- Praj Industries.
While stressing upon the usage of unconventional sources of energy like bio-CNG Mr. Gadkari urged farmers to produce Bio-CNG from agricultural waste and bamboo.
The Minister also said this biomass-to-bio CNG conversion technology can give a new direction to industries in paddy cultivation districts like Bhandara-Gondia in eastern Vidarbha.
