Maharashtra is set to pave the way for sustainable road construction in India with the country’s first cement concrete steel slag road on NH-66. This innovative road is being built using steel slag – an industrial waste product – and cement slag.

The construction of this groundbreaking road is taking place near the JSW steel plant in Dolvi, about 50 km outside Mumbai. So far, a one km stretch of the road has been completed, with work currently underway to extend it further. This isn’t the first time this technology has been used in India – a similar process was used in Surat to create a bituminous road.

The Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) is playing a key role in realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of converting waste into wealth through this project. The CSIR’s involvement in this project will likely inspire further innovation in the field of sustainable road construction in India.

On March 6, 2023, sensors were installed inside the road to collect data and monitor its performance. The results of this data analysis will help improve road-building methodologies in other locations. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is aiming to construct thousands of kilometers of roads under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, and this groundbreaking technology has the potential to pave the way for more sustainable and eco-friendly road construction practices across the country.