Guwahati: BitChem, located in the NorthEast of India, is involved in making road construction more sustainable. BitChem is supported by India's Technology Development Board, which operates under the Department of Science & Technology. BitChem specializes in producing Bitumen Emulsions and providing advanced Road Technologies for building eco-friendly roads in the country. They aim for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly road construction methods. Mr. Rajeev Agarwal, the CEO of BitChem Asphalt Technologies, discussed their technology and its contributions to sustainability in an interview with Business-Northest.

BNE: What work is BitChem Asphalt into? Please elaborate on this.
Rajeev Agarwal: Bitchem Asphalt Technologies is headquartered in the NorthEast region and operates with a demo plant demo plant set up in 9th Mile, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya and an office in Guwahati. It was founded in 2007 and started as one of the early adopters of machinery imported from Denmark. The company specializes in producing engineered cold bitumen, a technology used to create pollution-free roads in rural areas. This innovation addresses environmental concerns while also offering cost-efficiency.

BNE: Asphalt being the venture of SM Group, take us along the journey of SM Group.
Rajeev Agarwal: BitChem began as a venture of SM Group, a prominent business conglomerate with over 60 years of history. And I am the 5th generation leading and managing the group. SM Group's interests span various sectors including steel distribution (representing TATA Steel in Northeast India), road materials (BitChem), real estate, and the hospitality industry. Notable joint ventures include collaborations with NOVOTEL in Guwahati and Taj Vivanta in Shillong. The group aspires to expand both BitChem and its overall presence to a pan-India level.

BNE: Can you elaborate on the costing and pricings of BitChem's Technology?
Rajeev Agarwal: BitChem focuses on road technology materials and holds a patent on a cold binder that enables pollution-free roads. This technology is cost-efficient, saving up to 35% of expenses and resulting in higher net benefits. The company produces modified bitumen products suitable for national highways and expressways. The addition of polymers and rubber increases road durability. BitChem also employs soil technology, allowing roads to be constructed without the need for mining and aggregates.

BNE: Can you shed light on the labour and the total costing involved in your projects?
Rajeev Agarwal: BitChem emphasizes the health and safety of laborers during road construction. Using tailor-made cold binder technology, laborers are not exposed to the fumes generated by hot mixes, which can lead to health issues. Cold mix technology is preferred by laborers, and its ease of use and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive choice. While cold mixes are slightly more expensive (2-3%) than hot mixes on a project basis, the overall cost increase can be around 10-15% when considering specific items.

BNE: How seamlessly you drive your projects?
Rajeev Agarwal: BitChem's headquarters location in the Assam-Meghalaya region has allowed for smooth collaboration with engineers in the NorthEast. The engineers have embraced the sustainable technology, likely due to the company's commitment to social causes. BitChem acknowledges the support from policy makers, including Dr. J Ramesh and Mr. Rajesh Bhushan, as well as state and central governments.

BNE: Which ground breaking project BitChem has worked upon?
Rajeev Agarwal: One of BitChem's notable projects was in Nasik, Maharashtra, where they successfully converted an existing hot mix plant to cold mix technology without requiring additional machinery.

BNE: What's your future plans for BitChem?
Rajeev Agarwal: Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, BitChem resumed its journey and has plans to expand the reach of its cold mix technology to pan-India and global highways. The company aims to work on recycling old highways using cold mix under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. A joint venture in New Delhi has been commissioned to produce these materials. The company's success has been motivating, and they look forward to more projects involving soil stabilization and existing road reclamation known as Full-Depth Reclamation (FDR).

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