Dr. Rajagopalan Vasudevan, a retired chemistry professor from Tamil Nadu, pioneered the idea of using plastic waste in road construction. His innovative method, introduced in 2002, has helped India build over 100,000 km of stronger, eco-friendly, and low-cost roads across 11 states. Awarded the Padma Shri in 2018, he is celebrated as the 'Plastic Man of India'.