Features Roads & Paving Technology
Canadian technology building roads in India

December 17, 2015 – IC-IMPACTS, a Network of Centres of Excellence funded by the Federal Government of Canada, unveiled an innovative new road in Thondebavi, India. Located near Bangalore, the new road uses advanced Canadian pavement technologies to increase the road’s lifespan and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

The Thondebavi community was in desperate need of improved road infrastructure; extreme heat and monsoon weather made it difficult for community members to even visit nearby villages. Dr. Nemy Banthia (CEO and Scientific Director of IC-IMPACTS) along with the Canadian Consul General to Bangalore, Mr. Stanley Gomes, unveiled the completed road to gathered community members.

The new road is divided into three segments, each using slightly a different thickness and proportion of materials. This approach allows the road to become a living research project that will physically demonstrate which segment of the road performs best. Each section uses super thin pavement technologies that significantly reduce the amount of concrete needed in the construction of the road, and innovative fibers that increase the roads overall strength and durability.

IC-IMPACTS developed the novel road designs through international, multi-faceted partnerships between Canadian and Indian industry and academic partners: ACC Limited, Fosroc Chemicals India, Reliance Industries, Stantec Inc., Stewols India, The University of British Columbia, the National Institute of Engineering and The University of Alberta.

This pavement project has already resulted in a new partnership with the Karnataka Government, who will undertake construction of additional roads with designs supplied by IC-IMPACTS.

These unique pavement technologies may be widely adopted into thousands of other pavement projects across Canada and India, significantly improving the lives of millions of people in both nations.