"Commerce minister Ramakrishna Hegde has written to the ministry of surface transport, which has authorised a cost and techno-feasibility report for rubberisation of roads," said EK Bharat Bhusan, director in charge of plantations at the commerce ministry.

The report is yet to be obtained by the surface transport ministry, which was expected to take a decision once it was ready, he said.

The nitty-gritty of using rubber for road construction would be decided once the report is received.

Rubber board chairman KJ Mathew said rubberisation of roads was one way to improve natural rubber use profitably for the nation.

A study had revealed that rubberisation of roads would cost an additional 15 per cent but it would cut down repair costs by a similar amount, Mathew said.

"Rubberisation of roadswould lead to better highways with longer life," and the concept would have to be accepted nation-wide for raising rubber consumption considerably in the country.

Mathew said increased use of rubber goods such as gloves, condoms and footwear could improve natural rubber consumption in the country.

"This would in turn improve public health in India," he said.

On protests from rubber growers against increased use of polyurethane for foam production, the rubber board chairman said government had no move to ban polyurethane through legal mechanism.

"The only way to compete against polyurethane is in terms of prices and quality. Rubber foam may still be a better quality material," he said.

Mathew also welcomed removal of duty on coir and other natural fibre foams saying it was a good step to promote use of natural fibre.

Rubber growers in general had demanded removal of 20 per cent duty on rubber foams, which they said discouraged use of rubber for producing foams.

Rubber board had not made any moveto stop rubber imports through advance license, which is against exports of rubber goods.

"But action has been taken to substitute advance license imports with rubber supply through the State Trading Corporation (STC)," he said.