International Conference Highlights Steel Slag Road Technology’s Role in Sustainable Infrastructure Development

New Delhi: Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member (Science) of Niti Aayog, graced the First International Conference on Steel Slag Road jointly organized by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and PHDCCI in New Delhi. During the event, Dr. Saraswat unveiled the Guidelines for Utilization and Processing of Steel Slag as Processed Steel Slag Aggregates in Road Construction, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development and efficient utilization of industrial waste from steel industries, particularly Steel Slag, in national infrastructure projects.

Dr. Saraswat highlighted that adopting these guidelines for road construction and maintenance using steel slag is expected to yield multiple benefits, including cost savings, reduced environmental impact, and enhanced road performance. He praised the CSIR-CRRI Steel Slag Road Technology for its significant contribution towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Waste to Wealth.” Dr. Saraswat extended his congratulations to Dr. Manoranjan Parida, Director CRRI, and Satish Pandey, Principal Scientist and inventor of steel slag road technology, for their exemplary contributions in developing and implementing this technology across India.

Nagendra Nath Sinha, IAS, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Steel, expressed the Ministry’s commitment to utilizing every resource, including scrap, slag, and heat, to enhance steel industry efficiency. He highlighted the Ministry’s support for a major R&D project at CSIR-CRRI to promote large-scale utilization of steel slag as a substitute for natural aggregates in road construction. The guidelines developed by CRRI ensure effective and safe use of various types of steel slag, including protocols for handling and storage to prevent environmental contamination. Mr. Sinha emphasized the significance of reducing reliance on natural aggregates, which amount to approximately 1.8 billion tonnes annually, through sustainable alternatives like processed steel slag aggregates.

Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR, referenced the success of the Steel Slag Road between Mumbai and Goa, NH 66, as a testament to the technology’s impact. She praised Niti Aayog and Dr. Saraswat for their continuous support to CSIR and highlighted the global interest in replicating this technology, citing a recent request from the United States.

Dr. Manoranjan Parida, Director, CSIR-CRRI, underscored CRRI’s 75-year legacy in advancing India’s highway network through technological innovations. Industry leaders, including Ranjan Dhar of Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India and Mr. V.R. Sharma of JSP Group Advisory Services, also spoke on the transformative potential of steel slag in sustainable infrastructure development.  Dhar highlighted the success of India’s First Steel Slag Road built at Hazira, Surat, in collaboration with CSIR-CRRI, which utilized 100 thousand tonnes of processed EAF steel slag aggregates. This pioneering project, recognized nationally and internationally, exemplifies the principles of waste to wealth and contributes to India’s Clean India Mission by reducing greenhouse gas and carbon emissions.