What CSIR-Central Road Research Institute does

CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), established in 1952 and headquartered in New Delhi, is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under India's Ministry of Science and Technology. The institute conducts applied R&D across pavement engineering (flexible and rigid), bridge engineering and structural health monitoring, geotechnical engineering, traffic engineering and safety, and transport planning, operating specialised facilities such as a Heavy Vehicle Simulator, Network Survey Vehicle, Falling Weight Deflectometer, and Mobile Bridge Inspection Unit. Its core products include bio-bitumen technology (jointly developed with CSIR-IIP for converting agricultural waste into bitumen), steel slag road technology (validated with AMNS India and APSEZ at Hazira Port), iron ore tailings pavements, waste foundry sand utilisation, ECOFIX pothole repair mix (licensed to Ramuka Global Eco Work), PAVE-SEAL photocatalytic emulsion, CLARIVISOR glare mitigation device, VInSD non-destructive testing, and PATCHFILL cold-mix pothole repair, supported by an 18-patent international IP portfolio and 16 registered trademarks.

The institute serves primarily Indian central and state government road agencies including MoRTH, NHAI, BRO, CPWD, state PWDs, Delhi PWD, GMDA, and development corporations such as Amaravati, alongside private sector licensees and international collaborators (TRB, ARRB, TRL, PIARC). Revenue is generated through a mix of government grant funding from CSIR, technical and consultancy services billed to government agencies on a project basis, technology licensing royalties (e.g., bio-bitumen licensed to 14 companies in January 2026, ECOFIX licensed to Ramuka Global Eco Work), and CSR-funded collaborative R&D. Since 1962, the institute has trained over 25,000 highway engineers and is a member of more than 20 national and international scientific bodies, serving as India's statutory technical authority on road standards through IRC and BIS committee participation.

Commercially, CSIR-CRRI monetises its innovations through a sales-led GTM targeting government tenders and licensing arrangements rather than direct product sales. The institute operates as a government state entity (not publicly traded), with leadership appointed by CSIR's Director General. Recent strategic moves include the January 2026 bio-bitumen technology transfer to 14 industrial licensees, a June 2026 MoA with Delhi PWD and SPA for a scientific urban road management system, ongoing MoUs with AMNS India (iron ore tailings) and IIF (foundry sand), and the appointment of Dr. Chalumuri Ravi Sekhar as Director effective 2 January 2026.

Name

CSIR-Central Road Research Institute

Legal name

CSIR - Central Road Research Institute

Website

https://crridom.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CSIR-Central Road Research Institute is India's premier national road R&D laboratory, established in 1952, serving government road agencies, municipal bodies, and private licensees with patented technologies spanning bio-bitumen, steel slag roads, bridge inspection, and traffic engineering, funded via CSIR grants, consultancy, and licensing royalties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Road infrastructure research and consulting

NAICS

Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (23731)

SIC

Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Road & Highway Authorities (Planning, Construction, Maintenance) (BPAIALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Road Maintenance & Asset Preservation (Resurfacing, Patching, Crack Sealing) (IMAFAEAF), Calibration Services & Standards (Calibration labs, reference standards, traceability services) (IMAGAFAH)

Keywords

• Road infrastructure research
• Pavement engineering consulting
• Bridge inspection technology
• Sustainable road materials
• Traffic transportation planning

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (CSIR): As a constituent laboratory of CSIR, the institute receives government funding for core R&D activities, personnel, and infrastructure maintenance.
2. Technology Licensing Royalties: CSIR-CRRI licenses its proprietary technologies (bio-bitumen, steel slag roads, pothole repair machines, noise barriers, etc.) to industrial partners for commercial-scale deployment, generating licensing fees. Technologies have been transferred to 14+ companies including Ramuka Global Eco Work, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel, and others.
3. Technical and Consultancy Services: The institute provides technical and consultancy services to various user organizations in India and abroad, including testing services, structural health assessments, traffic surveys, and road condition evaluations. Revenue generated through consultancy contracts with NHAI, state PWDs, municipal corporations, and other government agencies.
4. CSR Funds from Industries: CSIR-CRRI welcomes CSR funds from industries for R&D projects in the road sector, providing an additional funding stream for collaborative research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CSIR-CRRI conducts research, development, and consultancy on the design, construction, and maintenance of roads and runways, including pavement engineering, bridge engineering, geotechnical engineering, and traffic and transportation planning. It licenses proprietary sustainable road construction technologies (bio-bitumen, steel slag roads, pothole repair, photocatalytic coatings, glare mitigation devices, MBIU, VInSD) to private-sector partners and delivers testing, design, and advisory services to government road authorities in India.

Product overview

CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) operates as a research institute under India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, offering a diverse portfolio of road infrastructure technologies and testing services. The institute provides both indigenous technologies for licensing (Bio-bitumen, PAVE-SEAL, CLARIVISOR, pothole repair solutions) and specialized testing/facilities (Mobile Bridge Inspection Unit, Heavy Vehicle Simulator, Network Survey Vehicle, Falling Weight Deflectometer). The technology portfolio includes sustainable road materials (steel slag roads, MSW utilization), advanced testing equipment (car driving simulator, retroreflectometer, photometry lab), and innovative products for road maintenance (VInSD structural health monitoring, wearable measurement devices). These offerings serve government agencies (NHAI, BRO, State PWDs), private industry, and research institutions across India's road infrastructure sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bio-bitumen Technology Indigenous technology jointly developed by CSIR-CRRI and CSIR-IIP that converts agricultural biomass and crop residues (primarily rice straw) into renewable bio-bitumen through low-oxygen pyrolysis, serving as an alternative to petroleum-based bitumen for road construction with 20-30% blending capability. Licensed to industrial partners for commercial production.
• Steel Slag Road Technology Road construction technology using processed steel slag aggregates; roads built with steel slag are 30% shallower yet capable of withstanding heavy truck traffic. Validated on national highways with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel sponsorship. Available via licensing to industrial partners.
• Mobile Bridge Inspection Unit (MBIU) Electro-mechanically operated articulated structure mounted on a vehicle that enables a 3-4 person inspection team to access the underside of bridge decks over flowing rivers or gorges for proper bridge inspection. Used by government bridge authorities and inspection contractors.
• Patch Fill Pothole Repair Solution (PATCHFILL) Cold mix-based solution for rapid filling of potholes in bituminous roads without environmental pollution or hindrance to road users. Potholes filled by Patch-fill are long-lasting. Used by road maintenance contractors and government PWDs.
• Vibro Integrity Sensing Device (VInSD) and VInSD Aerial Inspection Unit (VAIU) Multi-purpose Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) / Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system combining Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) testing and accelerometer-based monitoring in a single package, with an aerial companion unit for elevated structures. Targeted at bridge and infrastructure assessment clients.
• PAVE-SEAL Air-Cleaning Nano Photocatalytic Pave Sealing Emulsion Environmentally sustainable pavement surface treatment using photocatalytic action to improve air quality. Suitable for flexible pavement surfaces and available for licensing to industrial partners and government road agencies.
• CLARIVISOR Glare Mitigation Device Glare mitigation device for four-wheeled vehicles designed to improve visual clarity and driving safety by reducing glare. Targeted at automotive OEMs and vehicle safety applications.
• Wearable Light and Glare Measurement Device Head-wearable device providing real-time glare and light measurement solutions for roads, highways, transportation, industrial, scientific, and research settings. Available for licensing to industrial partners.
• Portable Light and Glare Measurement System Portable and handy system providing real-time light measurement and recording for roads, highways, illumination audits, and various industrial applications. Available for licensing.
• Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Road Embankment Technology Technology utilizing 65-75% of segregated municipal solid waste for embankment construction. Leachate studies confirm MSW is non-hazardous as heavy metal concentration is within permissible limits. Targeted at municipal corporations and infrastructure developers.
• Two Pack On-site Pothole Filling Mix Cold mix-based pothole repair solution offering durable, cost-effective, and rapid response for pothole repair across diverse climatic and traffic conditions. Available for licensing.
• Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) Accelerated Pavement Testing Facility Accelerated Pavement Testing Facility used for rapid evaluation of pavement performance under simulated heavy vehicle loading conditions. Used by highway agencies, contractors, and pavement researchers on a paid consultancy basis.
• Network Survey Vehicle Vehicle-based system for conducting network-level road condition surveys and pavement evaluation on a consultancy basis for highway and road agencies.
• Falling Weight Deflectometer Equipment for non-destructive testing of pavement structural capacity and deflection measurement, offered as a testing service to road authorities.
• CSIR-CRRI Car Driving Simulator Driver diagnostic and training simulator for assessing driving skills and safety using patented CSIR-CRRI methodology, offered for road safety and training use cases.
• CSIR-CRRI Portable Retroreflectometer and Photometry Lab Instrument for measuring retroreflectivity of road markings and signs and supporting photometric measurements and light testing for road safety assessment, offered through CSIR-CRRI's Photometry Lab on a consultancy basis.
• ECOFIX Steel Slag Pothole Repair Mix Commercial pothole repair mix using processed steel slag aggregates, licensed by CSIR-CRRI to Ramuka Global Eco Work for commercial production and distribution to road maintenance customers.
• Iron Ore Tailings in Road Construction Technology Technology to assess feasibility and durability of replacing natural materials in pavement layers with mining waste (iron ore tailings), developed in collaboration with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) India. Targeted at mining companies and road construction contractors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Bio-bitumen blending at 15% can save India Rs 4,000-4,500 crore in foreign exchange annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delhi Government Public Works DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Delhi government signed a Memorandum of Agreement with CSIR-CRRI and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) to develop a scientific, data-driven road management system aimed at reducing dust pollution. The framework enables systematic assessment of road conditions, traffic load, structural capacity, and maintenance requirements using scientific and green belt approaches.
• Indian Federation of Green EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026MoU signed between CSIR-CRRI and Indian Federation of Green Energy to foster joint research on sustainable transport, aligned with the Green Transport Conclave held in New Delhi. Focuses on multi-fuel strategy and green transport transition research.
• CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP)coreTechnology or Integration · 31 March 2026Joint development of bio-bitumen technology that converts agricultural biomass and crop residues into renewable bitumen. This is the flagship technology partnership of CSIR-CRRI, producing India's first commercially viable bio-bitumen from rice straw through pyrolysis. The technology was officially transferred to 14 companies in January 2026. Benefits include reduced stubble burning pollution, import substitution, and additional farmer income.
• Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Collaboration between IIF and CSIR-CRRI to convert waste foundry sand into material for road construction, addressing environmental concerns from India's metal casting industry. Project specifically targets the Coimbatore foundry cluster, India's largest, which generates significant quantities of foundry sand waste. Dr. N Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, emphasized alignment with sustainable development and circular economy principles.
• School of Planning and Architecture (SPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026SPA and CSIR-CRRI partnered with NCR states to establish a standardized framework for urban road development, including a web-based Road Asset Management System (RAMS) for predictive maintenance. Also working with GMDA on dust-free corridor designs for 15 roads in Gurgaon.
• ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Collaboration between CSIR-CRRI and AMNS India to investigate the use of iron ore tailings in road construction. Project aims to assess feasibility and durability of replacing natural materials in pavement layers with mining waste, contributing to sustainable infrastructure development.
• Ramuka Global Eco WorkminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 23 January 2026Agreement signed with Ramuka Global Eco Work for commercial production of ECOFIX, a pothole repair mix. Initiative aims to improve infrastructure resilience, reduce repair costs, and create employment, with plans for a steel slag processing facility by 2027.
• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's first steel slag road inside a private port at Hazira Port, 1.1 km connecting Multi-Purpose Berth to coal yard. Developed with CRRI steel slag technology and AMNS processed slag, setting a new global benchmark in circular economy-led sustainable maritime infrastructure.
• CSIR (Parent Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSIR-CRRI is a constituent laboratory of CSIR, operating under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. The institute benefits from CSIR's network of 40+ laboratories and the CSIR Society chaired by the Prime Minister of India. CSIR Director General Dr. N Kalaiselvi oversees all CSIR laboratories including CRRI.
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoRTH is the primary government stakeholder for CRRI's road research agenda. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has highlighted CRRI's bio-bitumen technology as a solution to reduce bitumen import dependence and has attended technology transfer ceremonies. MoRTH provides force majeure relief and price adjustment mechanisms to contractors during supply disruptions, in consultation with CRRI.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RIOH (Research Institute of Highway, China): China's premier highway research institute under the Ministry of Transport, conducting pavement, bridge, and traffic engineering R&D. RIOH operates a similar standards-influencing, government-aligned model with a large technical staff, making it a strong regional peer.
• ARRB (Australian Road Research Board): Australia's national road research body performing applied research, testing, and consultancy across pavement engineering, road safety, and asset management. ARRB's mix of government-funded research, commercial testing services, and technology transfer closely mirrors CRRI's operating model.
• TRL (Transport Research Laboratory): UK-based transport research laboratory with similar scope in road design, materials, safety, and infrastructure testing. Both CRRI and TRL serve as national reference labs, conduct pavement and bridge research, and license technologies, making TRL the closest international analogue in business model and mandate.
• BASt (Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen): German Federal Highway Research Institute conducting research on roads, bridges, traffic engineering, and vehicle standards. As a government-affiliated national road research body with a similar mandate to advise on standards and conduct applied R&D, BASt is a direct institutional peer to CRRI.
• VTI (Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute): Sweden's national research institute for transport and infrastructure, covering pavement technology, traffic safety, and transport economics. VTI's government-funded research model with commissioned studies from public agencies parallels CRRI's primary operating mode.
• Université Gustave Eiffel (formerly IFSTTAR): French national research institute for transport, infrastructure, and urban planning, formed from the merger of IFSTTAR and other entities. Comparable to CRRI in scope of pavement, bridge, and transportation engineering research, with a strong mix of government-sponsored and licensing-driven work.
• IIT Roorkee - Transportation Engineering Group: Leading Indian academic research group in transportation and pavement engineering, collaborating with NHAI and state agencies on sponsored R&D. While academic in nature, IIT Roorkee competes with CRRI for government-sponsored road research projects and consultancy assignments in India.
• PWRI (Public Works Research Institute, Japan): Japanese national research institute for public works, including roads, bridges, and geotechnical engineering. PWRI's mandate to conduct applied R&D supporting national standards and provide technical guidance to government agencies closely parallels CRRI's institutional role.

Broad incumbents

• Transportation Research Board (TRB): US program under the National Academies that convenes and funds transportation research rather than operating its own labs. TRB is a broader institutional peer in convening standards, hosting research, and shaping national transportation policy, though it lacks CRRI's in-house laboratory and licensing functions.

Others

• CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC): Sister CSIR laboratory in India focused on structural engineering research, including bridges and large infrastructure. As a peer CSIR lab, SERC shares institutional parentage and a similar government-funded R&D model, and intersects with CRRI's bridge engineering domain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/csircrri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5dVitAkljw6ikthyvDaL2g
• Facebookfacebook.com/Central-Road-Research-Institute-CSIR-New-Delhi-100064319664387
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-road-research-institute-crri-
• Instagraminstagram.com/csircrri

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CSIR-Central Road Research Institute