Nitin Gadkari presents national innovation award to Guwahati venture
Guwahati-based BitChem Asphalt Technologies Limited has been awarded the “Sustainable Material Innovation of the Year” at the Build India Infra Awards 2026 for its pollution-free and zero-emission road binder, Green Bitumen.
The award was presented by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at a ceremony attended by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. The recognition highlights the company’s contribution to promoting energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable road construction practices in the country.
BitChem’s Green Bitumen technology has been successfully deployed in a 51-kilometre project undertaken by the Road Construction Department of the Government of Bihar. The innovation eliminates the need for conventional hot-mix asphalt operations by using a tailor-made cold-mix binder technology. According to the company, the solution significantly reduces fuel consumption, avoids greenhouse gas emissions and eliminates on-site air pollution while maintaining durability and performance standards.
BitChem is a venture supported by the Technology Development Board under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The company expressed gratitude to TDB Secretary Rajesh Pathak for institutional support in advancing the technology.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman S.K. Jain said the recognition validates the company’s long-term focus on developing scalable road construction solutions aligned with net-zero and circular economy principles. He noted that the innovation emerging from the North East demonstrates the region’s growing contribution to national infrastructure development in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The company also acknowledged the contribution of its research and development partner, Dr. U.C. Sahoo, faculty member at Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, for technical collaboration in developing and validating the Green Bitumen technology.
With increasing acceptance among government agencies and successful field implementation, Green Bitumen is expected to strengthen the adoption of sustainable materials in infrastructure projects across India.
