Durable Solutions for Runway Construction

Durable runway and highway construction can be achieved by promoting advanced solutions like Performance Grade (PG) binders and leveraging NABL-accredited laboratories to design pavement that can withstand the challenges of aggressive climatic conditions and heavy traffic loads. This ensures long-lasting, climate-adaptable, ESG-compliant, and sustainable infrastructure while advocating for policy changes and innovation. In this interaction with SUBHENDU KUNDU, General Manager of Marketing & Branding of Hindustan Colas, these pressing issues and forward-looking solutions are discussed in detail.

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● Can you tell us about your company and the segment you cater to?

HINCOL is a 50:50 JV of HPCL and Colas SA of France. Colas, a French multinational, specialises in mobility solutions and has constructed numerous runways across the World and operates in 71 countries.

Hindustan Colas was established on July 21, 1995, making the JV nearly 30 years old. It is recognised as one of HPCL's most successful joint ventures in India.

Hindustan Colas operates 10 plants across the country and manages two bulk bitumen storage terminals, one on the East Coast at Haldia and other one at the West Coast at Mangalore. Hincol manufactures modified bitumen, which is used in runways and highways for surfacing.

Currently, Hincol holds approximately 67% of the market share in Bitumen Emulsion and 80% in PMB supplies across all projects in India. Most major runways in the country, such as Navi Mumbai, Vizag (Bogapuram) (ongoing), and the upcoming Guwahati runway, are being built using our Polymer Modified Binders.

● Does this joint venture cater exclusively to the aviation sector, or does it serve other sectors as well?

Hincol serves the aviation and highway sectors, including rural roads. It supplies materials for all kinds of roads and also exports to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and parts of Africa.

Runways require a more specialised binder to handle the heavy loads of frequent aircraft landings. Bitumen, being a viscoelastic product, lacks sufficient elastic properties in its natural state, thus making the straight-run Bitumen VG 30 or VG 40 unsuitable to handle such heavy loads, specifically in high and Low climatic conditions.