The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has effectively deployed an indigenous road construction technology to establish bituminous road sections at high altitudes near the Sela tunnel and LGG-Damteng-Yangste (LDY) road along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh.
The ‘Rejupave’ technology, developed by India’s premier road research organization, CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), proves advantageous in constructing high-altitude bituminous roads under low and sub-zero temperature conditions.
According to Additional Director General (East) at BRO, PKH Singh, the ‘Rejupave’ technology has been successfully employed to create low-temperature bituminous mixes for building roads at the Sela tunnel and LDY road sites at altitudes of 14,000 feet and 18,000 feet, respectively.
Singh highlighted, “This technology reduces the production and rolling temperature of bituminous mixes by 30 degrees Celsius to 400 degrees Celsius, with minimal heat loss during transit. It extends the working window for road construction in challenging conditions, enabling the BRO to establish a resilient road network at an accelerated pace.”
Satish Pandey, Principal Scientist at CSIR-CRRI and inventor of ‘Rejupave,’ explained that the asphalt modifier in this indigenous technology is a bio oil-based product. It significantly reduces the heating requirement of bituminous mixes and preserves their temperature during transit.
Pandey emphasized, “The use of ‘Rejupave’ technology not only facilitates road construction at sub-zero temperatures but also contributes to lowering greenhouse gas emissions in the environmentally sensitive mountainous region of Arunachal Pradesh.”
He further noted that roads constructed using the ‘Rejupave’ asphalt modifier in cold climates will exhibit enhanced long-term durability and improved resistance to thermal cracking under low-temperature conditions.
Establishing a resilient road infrastructure along the India-China border is a top priority for the central government, aiming to enhance the operational capacity of the defense forces. The construction and maintenance of high-altitude bituminous roads in the challenging terrains of Arunachal Pradesh have been particularly difficult for the BRO, often hampered during winter months due to the increased heating time required for hot bituminous mix production.