Itanagar: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has successfully employed an indigenous road construction technology, 'Rejupave', to build high-altitude bituminous road sections near the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. Developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute, 'Rejupave' allows the construction of bituminous roads at low and sub-zero temperatures. The technology has been utilized at Sela tunnel and LDY road site at altitudes of 14,000 feet and 18,000 feet, respectively.
The 'Rejupave' technology brings down the production and rolling temperature of bituminous mixes by 30 degrees Celsius to 400 degrees Celsius. It minimizes heat loss in the bituminous mix during transit, even in challenging conditions with long haulage times amid snowfall. Additional Director General (East) of BRO, PKH Singh, noted that this technology enhances the working window of road construction in difficult terrains and will contribute to building a robust road network more efficiently.
Satish Pandey, the Principal Scientist of CSIR-CRRI and inventor of 'Rejupave', highlighted that the asphalt modifier is a bio oil-based product, significantly reducing the heating requirement of bituminous mixes. Moreover, it preserves the bituminous mix temperature during transit. The use of 'Rejupave' technology not only aids the BRO in constructing roads at sub-zero temperatures but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions in the eco-sensitive mountainous environment of Arunachal Pradesh.
Pandey emphasized that roads built using 'Rejupave' asphalt modifier in cold climatic regions exhibit improved long-term durability and better resistance to thermal cracking under low-temperature conditions. Building a robust road infrastructure at a faster pace on the India-China border is one of the central government's top priorities to enhance the operational capacity of the defense forces.
Construction and maintenance of high-altitude bituminous roads in the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh have posed challenges for the BRO, particularly during winter months when work is often delayed due to increased heating times at high temperatures needed for hot bituminous mix production.
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