The Ministry of Science & Technology has announced that roads built using steel slag, a waste product from steel manufacturing, can reduce construction costs by around 40 per cent while delivering four times the structural strength of conventional roads. The technology, developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute and implemented with Jindal Steel Limited, has now received recognition as the world’s longest steel slag road. This development opens opportunities for widespread adoption across highways, railways, ports and other infrastructure projects across India.
What the technology offers
Steel slag roads require major maintenance only after approximately 15 years in suitable applications, compared to conventional roads needing earlier upkeep. A 1.85-kilometre road at Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, has been certified as the world’s longest road built with processed steel slag aggregates. The technology converts steel slag—a by-product of steel production—into usable aggregates for road construction.
The Ministry has already identified the next phase of scaling. CSIR-CRRI has received a work order from Jindal Steel to construct a 40-kilometre road in Odisha, representing a significant expansion from the current Guinness World Record road.
Steel slag road technology has been tested across several projects. These include a six-lane road at Hazira in Gujarat connecting an industrial area to the port, a one-kilometre section on the Mumbai-Goa highway where approximately 80,000 tonnes of steel slag were used, heavy-duty infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh in border regions, and a 1.1-kilometre road inside Hazira Port.
What this means for you
If you are involved in road construction, railways, port development or other infrastructure projects, this technology offers a way to build stronger, longer-lasting roads at lower cost while reusing industrial waste. Government departments, State authorities and private builders are being encouraged to assess whether steel slag roads suit their projects. Engineers and planners should familiarize themselves with the technology through awareness programmes, as it is now positioned as a mainstream option for infrastructure development across India.