The country has officially inaugurated its first “sweet road” following a successful trial using sugarcane molasses as a substitute for bitumen in road construction. This innovative concept, developed by experts at IIT Roorkee, was tested on a 650-meter section of the national highway connecting Muzaffarnagar to Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh.
The bio-bitumen, incorporating up to 30% molasses instead of traditional asphalt, has proven durable and resilient, particularly after enduring the last monsoon season since its construction in November 2022. This marks the first such experiment in India, yielding positive results.
Both the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) have recognized the success of this trial on NH 709 AD (Panipat to Khatima highway). They plan to identify additional sections for further experimentation with bio-bitumen before considering its broader application.
Jitendra Kumar Banga, Engineer-in-chief and head of the department, stated, “In August, an IIT Roorkee faculty member who developed the molasses-based bio-bitumen will train our engineers on its application in road construction. We will explore its potential but will make a final decision after more trials in different conditions.”
Assistant Professor Nikhil Saboo and PhD fellow Dheeraj Mehta from IIT Roorkee pioneered this formula. “The Muzaffarnagar-Shamli section yielded favorable results. We are in discussions with MoRTH to apply this technology to two more national highways in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. I look forward to further discussions with PWD engineers during the upcoming training session in Lucknow,” said Saboo.
Constructing a kilometer of road with flexible pavement typically costs between Rs 3 crore and Rs 4 crore, with bitumen accounting for 60% of the sub-base layering expenses. The use of bio-bitumen is expected to significantly reduce overall project costs and the carbon footprint of road construction agencies. In Uttar Pradesh, senior officials report that nine kilometers of road are constructed daily.