NIT Srinagar Bags Patent for Innovative Eco-friendly Road Engineering System | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar has been granted a patent by the Patent Office, Government of India, for a new material system developed for pavement engineering.

The patented technology, titled “Zinc-Coordinated Porphyrin-Integrated Geocomposite Systems for Sustainable Pavement Engineering,” has been developed by a research team led by Vivek, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, and Ravi Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, along with PhD scholar Waseem Arif and researchers Attaullah Kaleem, Kizafa Aftab, and Manzoor Hussain.

The innovation focuses on integrating zinc-coordinated porphyrin structures into geocomposite pavement systems to improve the mechanical and environmental performance of road infrastructure. It is aimed at enhancing durability under extreme climatic conditions, including those prevalent in cold regions such as Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the research team, the material system offers improved resistance to rutting and fatigue cracking, which are among the primary causes of pavement deterioration. It also enables better load distribution and extends the service life of road surfaces through structural modification at the molecular and composite levels.

NIT Srinagar Director Prof Binod Kumar Kanaujia said the patent reflects the institute’s focus on research and innovation with practical applications in infrastructure development.

Registrar Prof Atikur Rehman described the development as an outcome of interdisciplinary research and institutional support for intellectual property creation.

Dean Research and Consultancy Prof Roohie Naaz Mir said the technology has potential applications in modern pavement systems, particularly in regions requiring climate-resilient infrastructure solutions.

Heads of the Civil Engineering and Chemistry departments also congratulated the research team, terming the achievement a significant milestone for the institute.