Roads, Highways, Cargo, Air-Cargo and Logistics infrastructure – Bharatmala, LEEP, SetuBharatam, etc.

India’s First Bio-Bitumen National Highway Inaugurated

Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.
Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Bio-Bitumen

Why in the News?

India’s first bio-bitumen-based National Highway stretch was inaugurated on NH-44 in Mansar, Nagpur, Maharashtra by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

About Bio-Bitumen

  • Bio-bitumen is a bio-based binder derived from renewable, sustainable sources such as: Vegetable oils, Crop stubble, Algae, Lignin (a component of wood), Animal manure.
  • It serves as an alternative to traditional bitumen, which is primarily derived from the distillation of crude oil.
  • The production of bio-bitumen reduces dependence on petroleum and is a step toward sustainable road construction and infrastructure development.

Significance and Features of Bio-Bitumen:

  • Bio-bitumen reduces the carbon footprint associated with the traditional bitumen production process.
  • By using renewable sources such as lignin (a byproduct of wood), it helps mitigate environmental concerns like stubble burning and contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions, potentially by as much as 70% compared to fossil-based bitumen.
  • India, which heavily imports traditional bitumen, can reduce its import dependency by switching to bio-bitumen made from locally available materials.
  • The use of bio-bitumen stimulates bio-refineries, creating opportunities for revenue generation and providing economic benefits to farmers and the bio-refining industry.

India’s Bitumen Scenario:

  • India imports around 50% of its total annual bitumen requirements, which amounted to 3.21 million tonnes in FY 2023-24.
  • The country produced 5.24 million tonnes of bitumen in the same period.
  • India’s bitumen consumption has been steadily increasing, averaging 7.7 million tonnes annually over the past five years.
  • In 2023-24, India constructed around 12,300 km of national highways, averaging nearly 34 km per day.

 

PYQ:

[2011] In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material?

1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio-asphalt is not based on fossil fuels.

2. Bioasphalt can be made from non-renewable resources.

3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials.

4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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