Innovative research and practical applications in road engineering and infrastructure development came under sharp focus during the technical session of the 84th Annual Session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) being held here.
The session brought together experts and researchers who presented papers published in the IRC Journal, showcasing innovative approaches and solutions in highway engineering. It provided a platform to exchange ideas aimed at improving road design, construction, and maintenance practices.
The session was chaired by H. Zoramliana, Engineer-in-Chief, Mizoram, and co-chaired by Patanjali Mishra, Chief Engineer, Roads & Buildings, Gujarat.
The technical session highlighted the importance of research-based advancements in enhancing durability, cost-effectiveness, and technical efficiency in road projects across India.
The session featured presentations from key organisations like IIT Roorkee, PMGSY Jammu, Infrastructure Design Consultants Pvt. Ltd., and GR Infraprojects Ltd. Discussions focused on durable bituminous mixtures, cost-effective SMA layers for low-volume roads, EPC/HAM project challenges, and the use of machine learning in pavement evaluation, highlighting innovation and practical advancements in road construction and maintenance.
The session underlined the growing integration of innovation, data-driven analysis, and sustainable materials in modern road construction, aiming to build stronger, smarter, and more resilient transport infrastructure.
Another session held on Saturday showcased key advancements in sustainable and performance-based road engineering. Presentations included Structural Health Monitoring of the Amarmahal Flyover in Mumbai, an FEA-based comparative study on pavements with foamed bitumen-treated bases by CRRI researchers, and a paper on decarbonising road construction, emphasising sustainability, by experts from NHAI and IIT Roorkee. Additionally, IIT BHU researchers discussed a novel methodology for selecting fillers to enhance the fatigue performance of asphalt pavements.
The interactive session highlighted the importance of research-backed approaches to structural monitoring, pavement design, and sustainable construction for building a resilient road network.