The national symposium in New Delhi focused on sustainable airport pavements, indigenous research and advanced materials to improve the durability and safety of India’s aviation infrastructure.
Highlights
- CSIR-CRRI organised the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium 2026 in New Delhi.
- The event focused on sustainable and performance-based airport pavement technologies.
- CSIR Director General N. Kalaiselvi inaugurated the symposium.
- Experts discussed pavement planning, quality control and advanced construction materials.
CSIR-CRRI Hosts Airport Pavement Symposium 2026 to Boost Aviation Infrastructure
New Delhi, October 24, 2026: The CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), in collaboration with Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Private Limited (BTS), organised the Indian Airport Pavement Symposium (IAPS 2026) in New Delhi on October 23 to promote advanced technologies and sustainable infrastructure solutions for India’s aviation sector.
The national symposium was held at the CSIR-CRRI Auditorium under the theme “Advancing Performance-Based Airport Pavements for a Resilient and Sustainable Aviation Future.”
The event brought together aviation regulators, airport operators, representatives of the armed forces, academic institutions and international pavement experts to discuss emerging challenges and technological solutions for airport infrastructure.
Focus on Indigenous Research and Innovation
The symposium was inaugurated by N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).
She emphasised the importance of indigenous research, technological innovation and institutional collaboration in strengthening India’s critical transportation infrastructure.
Manoj Menon, Executive Director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), attended as the guest of honour and highlighted the role of industry-led innovation and advanced materials in meeting the changing requirements of aviation infrastructure.
MoU Signed for Advanced Airport Pavement Solutions
A major highlight of the symposium was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CSIR-CRRI and Bharat Tiki Tar Shell India Private Limited.
The agreement aims to strengthen collaborative research, technology development and practical deployment of advanced modified bituminous binders and specialised airport pavement solutions.
The collaboration is expected to support the development of improved materials and engineering technologies for airport runways and other airside infrastructure.
Experts Discuss Sustainable Airport Infrastructure
Technical sessions at the symposium focused on pavement planning, quality control, sustainable airfield development and modified bituminous materials.
CSIR-CRRI Director Ch. Ravi Sekhar highlighted the institute’s contributions to pavement engineering, infrastructure research, asset management and technical standards.
He stressed the importance of converting scientific research into practical engineering solutions to improve airport pavement durability, safety and sustainability.
The symposium also highlighted the need for stronger cooperation between research institutions, government agencies and private industry.
Through the initiative, CSIR-CRRI aims to support India’s expanding aviation infrastructure by encouraging the adoption of advanced construction materials, improved engineering practices and sustainable airport pavement technologies.
