Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji Unveils REJUBIT – The Future of Sustainable Road Recycling
Paving the Way for Sustainable, Cost-Effective, and High-Performance Roads in India
New Delhi, February 7, 2025
In a landmark move towards sustainable road infrastructure, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji, unveiled REJUBIT, a pioneering innovation in road rejuvenation and recycling developed by CSIR-CRRI in collaboration with Ooms India. This scientifically engineered rejuvenating agent is set to revolutionize road rehabilitation in India by enabling the reuse of up to 60% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in hot mix asphalt while maintaining superior performance and durability.
The Challenges of Conventional Road Rehabilitation
Roads form the backbone of a nation’s economy, facilitating the seamless movement of people and goods. However, traditional methods of road rehabilitation—such as overlays and full reconstruction—pose several challenges:
- Rising Road Levels: Each overlay increases the road height, causing drainage issues and affecting adjacent infrastructure.
- Resource Depletion: Reconstruction requires vast amounts of virgin aggregates and bitumen, depleting natural resources at an alarming rate.
- Environmental Impact: Conventional methods contribute significantly to carbon emissions and high economic costs, making them unsustainable in the long run.
With India’s road network spanning over 6.2 million kilometers, continuous construction and maintenance generate millions of tons of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) annually. While developed nations achieve recycling rates as high as 90%, RAP utilization in India remains alarmingly low due to concerns over the hardening of bitumen over time. REJUBIT directly addresses this challenge, ushering in a new era of sustainable road construction.
REJUBIT: A Game-Changer in Road Rejuvenation & Recycling
REJUBIT is a scientifically formulated rejuvenator that restores the properties of aged binder in RAP, making it possible to incorporate up to 60% RAP in asphalt mixes without compromising quality. This innovation offers several key advantages:
- Restores Aged Binder – Enhances flexibility and adhesion, ensuring high durability.
- Meets Global and National Standards – Enables high-performance recycled asphalt mixes.
- Boosts Sustainability – Reduces dependence on virgin materials, conserving natural resources.
- Cost-Effective – Lowers overall road construction and maintenance costs.
Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji’s Vision for Sustainable Roads
While unveiling REJUBIT, Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji lauded the initiative, emphasizing the need for a circular economy in road construction. He stated:
“For India to grow and be a 5 trillion dollar economy, we need to be ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, particularly in the field of road sector. As good roads, lead to growing economy with extensive connectivity and trade routes. REJUBIT is a Made-In-India revolutionary step in India’s journey enabling the re-use of old road material and have high quality roads. By RAP recycling, we can significantly reduce carbon emissions and have lower maintenance cost of roads.”
Shri Gadkari also encouraged public and private sector adoption of REJUBIT.
Shri Rajeev Kathal on REJUBIT’s Impact
Shri Rajeev Kathal, Managing Director, Ooms India, highlighted the transformative potential of REJUBIT in reducing costs and environmental impact:
“At Ooms India, we are committed to pioneering solutions that redefine road & runway construction since 1999. Our new product, REJUBIT is a game changer and represents a shift in asphalt recycling, ensuring high performance while significantly cutting costs. By increasing RAP utilization, we reduce reliance on fresh bitumen and aggregates, directly benefiting the economy and environment. We are proud to partner with CSIR-CRRI in driving this revolution, and we look forward to its large-scale implementation across India.”
A New Era for Indian Roads
With the launch of REJUBIT, India is poised to become a global leader in sustainable road construction. The adoption of this technology will enable:
- Lower construction and maintenance costs
- Drastic reduction in carbon emissions
- Minimal dependency on virgin raw materials
- Extended pavement life with superior performance
As India continues to expand and modernize its road infrastructure, innovations like REJUBIT will play a pivotal role in ensuring that growth is sustainable, cost-efficient, and environmentally responsible.