- Why in news
- On 2 September 2026, CSIR-CRRI, OSEPL and Ooms India demonstrated a 60% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement mix in the DBM layer on NH-716 (Chennai–Tirupati Package-I).
- What it is
- Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is old bituminous road material that is milled out, processed and reused in new asphalt mixes. It holds aggregate and aged bitumen, which can be rejuvenated with additives. REJUBIT is an Indian RAP rejuvenator developed by CSIR-CRRI with Ooms India to restore aged bitumen properties.
- Trial site
- The 60% RAP mix was laid in the Dense Bituminous Macadam layer on NH-716, Chennai–Tirupati Package-I.
- REJUBIT
- REJUBIT is an indigenous rejuvenator, jointly developed by CSIR-CRRI and Ooms India, that restores aged bitumen so more RAP can be used.
- Stage reached
- The technology moved from laboratory development to field-scale implementation.
- Process shown
- The demonstration covered the full chain: RAP recovery, processing, characterisation, rejuvenation, mix design, hot-mix production, laying and compaction.
- Resources saved
- RAP can reduce the need for virgin aggregate and bitumen, and cut construction waste.
Don’t confuse with RAP vs. cold mix/waste plastic roads: RAP reuses old asphalt after rejuvenating its aged bitumen. Waste-plastic roads add plastic to the bitumen or mix. They are different ways to cut virgin material use.
Don’t confuse with CSIR-CRRI vs. NHAI: CSIR-CRRI is a research laboratory under CSIR. NHAI builds and maintains national highways. At this trial CRRI gave technical guidance and NHAI officials attended.
Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- Treats existing roads as a resource bank, cutting demand for virgin aggregate and bitumen.
- Lowers construction waste and the environmental footprint of highways, and reduces dependence on imported bitumen.
Problems
- Aged bitumen varies, so strict RAP characterisation and quality control are needed.
- High RAP shares need field evidence and confidence among contractors and agencies before wide adoption.
Way forward
- Build field performance data from trials such as NH-716 and monitor long-term pavement behaviour.
- Support wider adoption of high-RAP mixes through standards and specifications, and adopt indigenous rejuvenators.
- 2025Prelims Q9Circular economy's effects: emissions, raw material use, production wastage reduction.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Circular-economy road technology; science and technology has 57 Prelims questions, but this is a demonstration and few testable facts.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.