CSIR-CRRI Partners with Industry to Develop Advanced Indigenous Airport Runway and Pavement Materials

India is advancing indigenous research into specialised airport pavement technologies through a new partnership between the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Private Limited (BTS). The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 23 October 2026 to promote the development and deployment of advanced modified bituminous binders and specialised pavement solutions for India’s aviation infrastructure.

The agreement was signed during the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium (IAPS 2026), organised at the CSIR-CRRI Auditorium in New Delhi. The initiative brings together scientific research and industrial expertise to address the increasing demands placed on airport runways, taxiways and other airside infrastructure. It also supports India’s efforts to strengthen domestic technological capabilities in critical transportation engineering.

CSIR-CRRI and Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Sign Research Agreement

The agreement between CSIR-CRRI and Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India establishes a framework for collaborative research, technology development and the practical application of advanced pavement materials. The partnership will focus on modified bituminous binders and engineering solutions suited to the demanding operational conditions of airport infrastructure.

Bituminous binders are essential components of asphalt pavement systems. They hold mineral aggregates together and contribute to the pavement’s ability to withstand repeated loading, temperature variations and environmental exposure. Modifying these binders can improve selected engineering properties, including resistance to permanent deformation, cracking and deterioration.

Through the collaboration, CSIR-CRRI will contribute its expertise in pavement engineering, materials research and technical evaluation. Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India will bring industrial knowledge relating to bituminous materials and their practical applications. The partnership aims to translate laboratory research and engineering knowledge into technologies that can support more durable and reliable airport pavements.

Indian Airport Pavement Symposium 2026 Brings Together Scientific and Industry Experts

The Indian Airport Pavement Symposium 2026 was jointly organised by CSIR-CRRI and Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India under the theme Advancing Performance-Based Airport Pavements for a Resilient and Sustainable Aviation Future. The event brought together representatives of regulatory organisations, airport operators, the armed forces, academic institutions and international pavement experts.

Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, inaugurated the symposium. She emphasised the importance of indigenous research, technological innovation and institutional cooperation in strengthening India’s critical transportation infrastructure.

Manoj Menon, Executive Director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, attended as the guest of honour. His address highlighted the contribution of industry-driven innovation and advanced material technologies to the changing requirements of aviation infrastructure.

The symposium provided a platform for examining engineering challenges associated with airport pavement planning, construction quality, long-term performance and sustainable material development. Participants discussed approaches that could improve the reliability and resilience of airport infrastructure through scientifically evaluated technologies and improved engineering practices.

Advanced Bituminous Materials for Stronger Airport Runways

Airport runways operate under considerably different loading conditions from conventional roads. Aircraft impose substantial loads through their landing gear, while take-off, landing, braking and turning movements subject pavement surfaces to repeated mechanical stress. These forces can contribute to rutting, fatigue cracking, surface deterioration and other forms of pavement distress.

Temperature variations and environmental conditions add to these challenges. High pavement temperatures can increase the susceptibility of asphalt to permanent deformation, while repeated temperature changes and moisture exposure can affect material performance over time.

Modified bituminous binders provide one approach to improving pavement behaviour under demanding operating conditions. By adjusting the properties of the binder, engineers can develop asphalt mixtures with improved resistance to particular forms of mechanical and environmental deterioration.

The effectiveness of these materials depends on their formulation, aggregate characteristics, pavement design and construction quality. Laboratory testing and field evaluation are therefore essential before new pavement technologies can be adopted for critical aviation infrastructure.

The CSIR-CRRI partnership will focus on developing and evaluating such advanced materials, with the objective of identifying solutions that address the performance requirements of airport pavements.

Performance-Based Pavement Engineering Gains Importance

A major focus of IAPS 2026 was the movement towards performance-based pavement engineering. This approach evaluates construction materials and pavement designs according to measurable engineering characteristics and their expected behaviour under operational conditions.

Traditional material specifications commonly emphasise properties such as material composition, grading and compliance with prescribed construction requirements. Performance-based methods seek to connect these characteristics more directly with pavement behaviour, including resistance to deformation, cracking, fatigue and other forms of distress.

For airports, this approach is particularly important because pavement deterioration can affect operational safety and require maintenance activities that interrupt aircraft movements. Engineering solutions that improve pavement performance can help airport operators manage maintenance requirements more effectively.

CSIR-CRRI Director Dr. Ch. Ravi Sekhar highlighted the institute’s contributions to pavement engineering, road and airport infrastructure research, asset management and the development of technical standards. He emphasised the need to convert scientific research into practical solutions that improve the durability, safety and sustainability of airport pavements.

The symposium’s discussions on pavement planning, quality control and sustainable airfield development reflected the importance of adopting engineering methods supported by scientific testing and long-term performance assessment.

Indigenous Research to Strengthen India’s Aviation Infrastructure

India’s expanding aviation network requires supporting infrastructure that can accommodate increasing operational demands. Airport development involves not only passenger terminals and navigation systems but also reliable runways, taxiways, aprons and associated engineering facilities.

These airside structures must meet stringent requirements for structural strength, surface condition and operational reliability. Their design and maintenance require specialised engineering knowledge because failures or deterioration can have consequences for aircraft movement and airport operations.

Developing pavement materials suited to Indian conditions can support greater domestic expertise in this specialised infrastructure segment. India’s diverse climatic conditions, including high temperatures, heavy monsoon rainfall and substantial regional variations, make material selection and pavement design particularly important.

Indigenous research can help engineers evaluate how different materials perform under these conditions and develop solutions that address specific operational requirements. Collaboration between scientific institutions and manufacturers also supports the translation of research findings into practical technologies.

The CSIR-CRRI agreement with Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India contributes to this objective by establishing a platform for joint material development and technical evaluation.

Sustainable Airport Pavements and Long-Term Infrastructure Performance

Sustainability formed an important part of the discussions at the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium 2026. In pavement engineering, sustainability involves considering material consumption, construction practices, maintenance requirements and the environmental implications of infrastructure over its operational life.

Airport pavements represent long-term infrastructure investments that require substantial quantities of construction materials. Improving their durability can potentially reduce the frequency of major repairs and the associated consumption of materials, energy and other resources.

Advanced binder technologies may contribute to these objectives by improving the resistance of asphalt mixtures to specific deterioration mechanisms. However, their environmental and economic benefits must be established through appropriate testing and life-cycle assessment rather than assumed from material specifications alone.

The development of sustainable airport pavement solutions therefore requires cooperation among researchers, material manufacturers, infrastructure developers and operators. Scientific assessment must consider structural performance alongside maintenance requirements, construction feasibility and environmental impacts.

By placing sustainability alongside pavement performance, IAPS 2026 highlighted the need for infrastructure technologies that combine engineering reliability with efficient resource utilisation.

CSIR-CRRI’s Role in Advanced Transportation Engineering

The CSIR-Central Road Research Institute is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. Based in New Delhi, the institute undertakes research related to roads, pavements, transportation engineering, construction materials and infrastructure management.

Its scientific activities include developing pavement technologies, evaluating construction materials, conducting engineering investigations and supporting the formulation of technical practices for transportation infrastructure.

Research institutions such as CSIR-CRRI play an important role in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and practical infrastructure development. Laboratory investigations, experimental testing and field studies help determine whether proposed technologies can meet real-world engineering requirements.

The institute’s collaboration with Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India extends this research-oriented approach to specialised airport pavement materials. By working with an industrial partner, CSIR-CRRI can connect scientific investigation with manufacturing expertise and the practical requirements of infrastructure projects.

The initiative also reflects the growing importance of collaboration between public research institutions and industry in developing technologies suited to India’s infrastructure requirements.

India Advances Indigenous Technologies for Future Airport Infrastructure

The signing of the MoU between CSIR-CRRI and Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India marks a positive development in India’s efforts to strengthen indigenous pavement engineering capabilities. The partnership establishes a platform for collaborative research into advanced modified bituminous binders and specialised materials intended for airport infrastructure.

The Indian Airport Pavement Symposium 2026 has also brought greater attention to the scientific requirements of modern airfield engineering. Its focus on performance-based design, quality control, sustainable construction and technological innovation provides a foundation for future research and industry cooperation.

As India’s aviation infrastructure continues to expand, the development of durable and technically reliable pavement systems will remain an important engineering priority. Stronger cooperation between research laboratories, government institutions and material manufacturers can accelerate the development of solutions suited to the country’s operational and environmental conditions.

The CSIR-CRRI initiative reinforces India’s growing emphasis on scientific innovation and domestic technological capabilities, contributing to the development of safer, more resilient and sustainable aviation infrastructure.

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References

1. Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India: CSIR-CRRI Inaugurates Indian Airport Pavement Symposium (IAPS 2026) in New Delhi. Press Information Bureau, 23 October 2026.
   https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2327710
2. CSIR-Central Road Research Institute: Official institutional information, pavement engineering research and technical programmes.
   https://crridom.gov.in/en
3. CSIR-Central Road Research Institute: Training Programmes 2026–27, including Design, Maintenance and Management of Airfield Pavements.
   https://crridom.gov.in/en/training-events

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