suparjya swain 
FEATURE: In a country where roads link villages to opportunity, Prof. Manoranjan Parida stands at the forefront of transformation. Since assuming leadership of the CSIR–Central Road Research Institute on 20 September 2022, he has energized India’s transport research—designing noise barriers that mute Delhi’s flyovers and developing bio‑bitumen to cut import bills. His journey, rooted in rural Odisha yet elevated through top laboratories and policy circles, pursues one mission: to build roads that do more than carry vehicles—they drive progress.
Having spent his early childhood in Balimela, a remote town in Odisha’s Eastern Ghats, Manoranjan grew up beside an Indo‑Russian hydro‑electric project where his father served as an electrical engineer. Visits to the dam site and power house ignited his fascination with infrastructure’s power to uplift disadvantaged communities and shaped his conviction that civil engineering is a force for social good.
He studied at Project High School, Balimela, completed secondary school at Unit‑8 High School, Bhubaneswar, and pursued higher secondary studies at B.J.B. College. He earned his B.Sc. Engg. in Civil Engineering at the University College of Engineering, Burla (now VSSUT Burla), followed by a Master’s in Urban Planning at the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, and a Ph.D. in Transportation Engineering at the University of Roorkee.
Joining the University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee) as a lecturer in 1996, Prof. Parida rose to HAG Professor, mentoring 33 Ph.D. scholars and publishing more than 450 research papers in high‑impact journals and conference proceedings. Recognized with IIT Roorkee’s Outstanding Teacher Award, he served as Dean of Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy and later as Deputy Director, forging vital links between academic research and real‑world infrastructure challenges.
Before leading CRRI, he consulted on more than 350 road projects nationwide. Under the Rashtriya Samvikas Yojana (2007–2013), he led third‑party quality audits of 1,700 km of Bihar state highways, ensuring construction quality, safety, and technical compliance. His designs for flyovers, intersections, and pedestrian facilities have brought technical precision and practical insight to projects ranging from rural roads to metropolitan corridors.
Since 2000, Prof. Parida has pioneered mixed‑traffic noise modeling. With AICTE support, he developed strategies culminating in India’s first noise barrier at Britannia Chowk—a model now replicated on corridors such as the Dwarka Expressway. His reports to the National Green Tribunal led to “low‑noise zones” on ring roads, introducing reduced speed limits for heavy vehicles to protect nearby communities. These innovations have enhanced urban livability and public health.
At CRRI, he champions sustainable, deep‑tech solutions. His “waste‑to‑wealth” initiative converts steel‑industry slag into road aggregates, preserving natural resources. His bio‑bitumen project transforms agricultural waste—rice and cotton straw—into eco‑friendly binders that reduce bitumen imports. The Ecofix pothole‑repair technology patches roads in under 30 minutes and is being deployed in Assam and Karnataka.
These innovations have moved beyond the lab: CRRI’s iRASTE project has successfully detected traffic hazards in Nagpur in real time. Prof. Parida envisions intelligent systems and circular‑economy principles shaping India’s transport ecosystem.
His honors—including the Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award (2004) and multiple accolades from the Indian Roads Congress—recognize his impact. For him, each award underscores the responsibility to translate research into tangible benefits for India’s roads and communities. He is presently serving as President of the Indian Roads Congress, the apex body that develops codes and guidelines for road development.
Looking ahead, he aims to scale bio‑bitumen production, further embed AI and IoT into highway systems, and influence national transport policy. A long‑cherished ambition is to write a comprehensive book on India’s road infrastructure—a distillation of decades of experience for future engineers and policymakers.
To aspiring civil engineers, his message is clear: “Master your fundamentals. Stay passionately curious. Learn beyond your discipline—embrace AI, IoT, and climate‑smart technologies. You’re not just building roads; you’re shaping the nation’s future.”
From Balimela’s hills to leading India’s premier road research institute, Prof. Parida’s journey shows how vision, dedication, and purpose can transform infrastructure—and lives. His work today promises smoother, smarter, and more sustainable journeys for generations to come.
