India's first sustainable road, made using lignin-based bio-bitumen, was inaugurated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) at the Nagpur-Mansar Bypass on National Highway (NH)-44. This project was launched by Praj Industries, a leading company in industrial biotechnology, based in Pune, Maharashtra.

- Praj Industries developed the project in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and Oriental Structural Engineers (OSE).

- Bio-bitumen saves India Rs. 4,000-4,500 crore annually in foreign exchange by reducing reliance on imported bitumen, promoting sustainable road development.

- In 2023-24, India consumed 88 lakh tons of fossil-based bitumen, with the consumption expected to rise to 100 lakh tons in 2024-25. Around 50% of this is imported, costing Rs. 25,000-30,000 crore every year.

Main Point :-

(i) The project aims to replace up to 15% of crude-derived bitumen with lignin bio-bitumen, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to traditional fossil-based bitumen. The remaining 85% of the material is still made from crude bitumen.

(ii) Bio-bitumen is an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based bitumen, made from renewable sources like agricultural waste. It's used in roads, roofing, and waterproofing, offering durability while reducing environmental impact.