Steel Slag Road Technology Achieves Guinness World Record with 40% Cost Reduction
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced that Steel Slag Road Technology can reduce road construction costs by approximately 40% while delivering four times the strength of conventional roads. The technology significantly extends maintenance cycles, requiring major maintenance only after nearly 15 years in suitable applications, representing a breakthrough for road engineering and infrastructure economy.
The achievement marks the conferment of the Guinness World Record for the "World's Longest Road Built with Processed Steel Slag Aggregates" - a 1.85-km road at Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, jointly pursued by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and Jindal Steel Limited. This indigenous technology converts processed steel slag, a by-product of steel production, into aggregates for road construction.
Strategic Expansion and Future Projects
Dr Jitendra Singh called for scaling the technology "from one project to many projects, from one State to many States" with adoption extending beyond the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to Railways, other government departments, state governments, and private builders and contractors. The initiative supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Waste to Wealth" recycling priority, demonstrating how industrial waste can transform into infrastructure wealth through Indian science and industry collaboration.
The technology has already been deployed in multiple landmark applications: a six-lane road connecting industrial area with Hazira Port in Gujarat; approximately 80,000 tonnes of steel slag used for a one-kilometre, four-lane section on NH-66 Mumbai-Goa Highway; strategic border region roads in Arunachal Pradesh; and a 1.1-km steel slag road inside Hazira Port connecting Multi-Purpose Berth with coal yard.
Next Phase: 40-km Odisha Project
CSIR Director General Dr N. Kalaiselvi announced that CSIR-CRRI has received a work order for a 40-km road in Odisha from Jindal Steel's Angul plant, moving from the current 1.85-km Guinness record toward a 40-km implementation. The project represents a significant scale-up as CSIR prepares to enter its 85th year.
The technology addresses multiple challenges: productive utilization of industrial by-product (steel slag), conservation of natural aggregates obtained through mining and quarrying, and improved durability in difficult terrain and high-rainfall regions. Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized particular value for challenging geographies like Northeast India where road construction is restricted to 4-5 months due to heavy rainfall.
The program included virtual inauguration of the record-breaking 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 led by Dr Satish Pandey.