Steel Slag Roads Could Cut Construction Costs by 40%, Offer Fourfold Strength: Dr Jitendra Singh
Minister Calls for Nationwide Adoption of Indigenous Technology as India Turns Industrial Waste into Infrastructure Resource
New Delhi | September 12, 2026
By Suman Munshi | IBG NEWS
India’s indigenous Steel Slag Road Technology could reduce road construction costs by around 40 per cent while providing nearly four times the strength of conventional roads, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, said on Saturday.
The Minister also highlighted the technology’s potential to extend road maintenance cycles, with suitable applications potentially requiring major maintenance only after around 15 years.
Dr Jitendra Singh made the remarks at an event marking the conferment of a Guinness World Record for the “World’s Longest Road Built with Processed Steel Slag Aggregates”. The record-setting 1.85-km road at Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, has been developed through collaboration between CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and Jindal Steel Limited.
From One Demonstration to Nationwide Adoption
Calling for wider deployment of the technology, Dr Jitendra Singh said the focus should now shift from a single project to multiple projects across several States.
He urged its consideration not only by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, but also by the Railways, other Central Government departments, State Governments and private infrastructure companies.
The Minister said greater awareness among engineers, implementing agencies, contractors and infrastructure operators would be essential for identifying projects where the technology is technically and economically suitable.
Turning Steel Industry Waste into Road Infrastructure
The technology uses processed steel slag, a by-product of steel manufacturing, as an aggregate for road construction. According to the government release, the initiative aligns with India’s broader “Waste to Wealth” approach, while also supporting resource conservation.
With India’s highways, expressways, industrial corridors, ports and urban infrastructure expanding rapidly, Dr Jitendra Singh stressed the need to reduce dependence on naturally mined and quarried aggregates.
He described the steel slag initiative as a way of addressing two challenges simultaneously—finding productive applications for industrial by-products and conserving natural resources.
Potential for Difficult Terrain and Heavy Traffic
The Minister pointed to the particular relevance of stronger and more durable road technologies in regions affected by difficult terrain and heavy rainfall.
Recalling his association with the Northeast, he noted that construction activity in some areas can be limited to only four or five months because of intense rainfall. Roads constructed during one season may also face damage before the next construction window.
He further highlighted the changing traffic requirements of rural roads. Routes originally designed primarily for village connectivity and light vehicles can later become important corridors for heavy commercial traffic as nearby areas develop industrially.
Technology Already Used in Major Projects
The steel slag technology has moved beyond laboratory and demonstration stages, with applications reported in several parts of the country.
At Hazira, Gujarat, processed steel slag aggregates were used in a six-lane road linking an industrial area with Hazira Port. The technology was subsequently applied on the NH-66 Mumbai-Goa Highway, where around 80,000 tonnes of steel slag were processed for a one-kilometre, four-lane road section.
It has also been deployed for heavy-duty infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh, including the strategic border region. A 1.1-km steel slag road inside Hazira Port has additionally connected the multi-purpose berth with the coal yard.
40-Km Odisha Project Could Set New Benchmark
The Raigarh Guinness record may soon be surpassed by a substantially larger project.
Dr N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Director General, CSIR, announced that CSIR-CRRI has received a work order for a 40-km road in Odisha from Jindal Steel’s Angul plant.
The proposed project would represent a major expansion from the current 1.85-km record and could establish a new benchmark for large-scale application of processed steel slag in road construction.
Government-Industry-Research Collaboration
The event also featured the virtual inauguration of the Raigarh road, release of a scientific documentary, signing of a Technology Transfer Agreement between CSIR-CRRI and Jindal Steel, launch of the “Steel Grit” brand, and recognition of the project team.
Dr Jitendra Singh described the initiative as an example of collaboration involving government, scientific institutions, industry and engineers. He said the next challenge was to create stronger pathways for indigenous technologies to move from research and demonstration projects into large-scale field applications.
A Model for India’s Circular Economy
The Minister placed the steel slag initiative within India’s wider circular economy and Waste to Wealth agenda, arguing that materials traditionally regarded as waste can acquire economic value through scientific innovation.
He cited other CSIR initiatives involving resource recovery and recycling as examples of how science and technology can contribute to a more resource-efficient industrial economy.
Dr Jitendra Singh congratulated Dr Satish Pandey and the CSIR-CRRI team for taking the technology from research into practical infrastructure applications. He also acknowledged Jindal Steel’s role in providing the scale and platform required for field deployment and called for more steel companies to collaborate with scientific institutions on similar solutions.
The Minister emphasised that the Guinness World Record should be viewed as a starting point rather than the final achievement, with the ultimate objective being wider adoption across India wherever technically and economically appropriate.
For IBG NEWS, By Suman Munshi
