गड्ढों का 20 मिनट का स्मार्ट समाधान

Dr. Sudip Karmakar   
SCDD, CSIR HQ.

What if fixing a pothole took less time than sipping your cup of hot coffee? CSIR–CRRI’s ECOFIX is making that possible—repairing roads faster, smarter, and greener.

At the heart of Delhi’s Secretariat Road, road workers poured a mix into a pothole that promised to change how India repairs its streets forever. Within just 20 minutes, the repaired stretch was ready for vehicles again. This wasn’t magic, it was ECOFIX, an innovative pothole repair technology developed by the CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR–CRRI).

The live demonstration, conducted by the Public Works Department (PWD), showcased the technology’s efficiency even in the toughest conditions. Both dry and waterlogged potholes were repaired instantly, no dewatering, no heavy machinery, and no waiting. For Delhi’s commuters, it was a glimpse of what smoother, smarter, and more sustainable roads could look like.

Turning Steel Waste into Sustainable Roads

Developed by CSIR–CRRI in collaboration with Ramuka Global Services Pvt. Ltd., a DPIIT-recognized startup, ECOFIX is a ready-to-use cold mix made from processed steel slag, a by-product of the steel industry. Each tonne of steel produced generates nearly 200 kilograms of slag waste, which often ends up in landfills. By converting this waste into a durable repair material, ECOFIX merges science, sustainability, and speed.

“The use of processed industrial waste not only makes the solution cost-effective and long-lasting but also promotes environmental sustainability by reducing dependence on natural aggregates,” said Dr. Satish Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR–CRRI and the inventor of ECOFIX.

The mix combines processed slag aggregates with a special polymeric binder, giving it excellent cohesion, water resistance, and shelf life. It can be applied directly at ambient temperature, even in waterlogged potholes, without any heating or tack coating making it a true all-weather, low-emission solution.

Delhi Leads the Way

Shri Parvesh Verma, Hon’ble Minister, PWD, Delhi, hailed the technology as a turning point for urban infrastructure. “Providing citizens with better, safer, and pothole-free roads is our top priority. The successful trial of ECOFIX will help us carry out timely and durable repairs ahead of the monsoon season,” he told The New Indian Express.

He added, “This isn’t just about fixing potholes, it’s about reinforcing public trust. Delhi is rapidly moving toward smart and sustainable infrastructure.”

The success of the Delhi trials inspired other states to adopt the technology for their own road networks.

Andhra Pradesh Embraces ECOFIX

Under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has partnered with CSIR–CRRI to implement ECOFIX across the state’s road network.

A live demonstration in Amaravati, attended by Minister for Roads & Buildings Shri Janardhan Reddy, showcased the technology’s performance under real field conditions. The demonstration followed a meeting between CSIR’s Director General Dr. N. Kalaiselvi and the Chief Minister, where she briefed the state leadership on CSIR’s research initiatives, including the ECOFIX technology for sustainable road maintenance.

Andhra Pradesh has also ensured the local availability of steel slag, with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) and Arjas Steel Plant collaborating with CSIR–CRRI for processing slag into roadworthy aggregates. With approximately 2 million tonnes of slag generated annually, and an additional legacy stockpile of 2–3 million tonnes, the state has ample raw material to support large-scale deployment.

Karnataka Accelerates Adoption

Following Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka has emerged as an early adopter of ECOFIX. In a groundbreaking step toward sustainable infrastructure, Karnataka unveiled a promising solution for eco-friendly road maintenance using the steel slag–based ECOFIX technology. Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, joined by PWD Chief Engineer H. Suresh and Belagavi Mayor Savita Kamble, witnessed a successful demonstration of this innovative pothole repair method on State Highway-141 (Rakskoppa–Sutagatti). The demonstration showcased the instant repair of a waterlogged pothole without dewatering. Traffic resumed seamlessly after the quick fix, highlighting the efficiency and sustainability of the ECOFIX mix.

In April 2025, the state government signed a tri-party agreement between CSIR–CRRI, the Public Works Department and Urban Development Department, and Ramuka Global Services Pvt. Ltd. to scale up deployment across the state, marking a major step toward greener and more resilient road infrastructure.

A pilot project conducted on State Highway-265 demonstrated exceptional results, paving the way for statewide implementation. ECOFIX will be produced locally in collaboration with JSW, Ballari, ensuring easy availability and efficient logistics. The initiative is set to make pothole repair a faster, more sustainable, and cost-effective technique for the state’s road network, simplifying transport and on-site application for maintenance teams.

Assam Joins the Movement

In the northeast, Assam the state government has signed MoUs with CSIR-CRRI to adopt ECOFIX for its own roads. A successful trial in Guwahati was followed by planned deployments in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur, and Silchar.

ECOFIX’s biggest advantage, its ability to repair even waterlogged potholes without dewatering makes it ideal for Assam’s heavy monsoon conditions. PWD officials say the technology could transform maintenance practices, especially during the rainy season when hot-mix plants cannot operate. The cold-application method will save time, cut emissions, and reduce reliance on bitumen heating.

Cleaner Roads, Greener Future

Since ECOFIX requires no heating of aggregates or bitumen, it significantly reduces energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30% compared to conventional hot-mix repair methods. The innovation also conserves natural resources by replacing quarried aggregates with processed industrial slag.

A retired PWD engineer told The Sentinel, “Potholes usually worsen during rains, and conventional systems require the surface to dry before repairs. ECOFIX’s instant patching ability, even in standing water, is a potential game-changer for India’s roads.”

A National Movement in the Making

What started as a single demonstration in Delhi has evolved into a nationwide movement for resilient and eco-friendly roads. ECOFIX is now being piloted or adopted in Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh, and has even found international use in Chicago, USA.

As India invests in greener infrastructure, CSIR–CRRI’s ECOFIX technology exemplifies scientific innovation serving public good, a smart, sustainable, and scalable solution that’s reshaping the country’s approach to road maintenance, one pothole at a time.