Why in news
- CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and Jindal Steel earned a Guinness World Record for the longest road built with processed steel slag aggregates (1.85 km) in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.
- Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that steel slag technology cuts road construction costs by 40% while quadrupling road structural strength.
Key terms
Steel Slag
A byproduct generated during the separation of molten steel from impurities in steelmaking furnaces.
CSIR-CRRI
A premier national laboratory under CSIR focused on highway engineering, bridge design, and transportation technology.
What is Steel Slag Road Technology?
- An indigenous circular economy technology developed by CSIR-CRRI that converts industrial steel slag—a waste byproduct of steel making—into engineered coarse and fine aggregates.
- Replaces natural mined aggregates in bitumen road layers, addressing both industrial waste disposal and aggregate shortage issues.
Key Advantages over Conventional Roads
- Reduces construction costs by up to 40% compared to conventional natural aggregate roads.
- Delivers up to four times higher structural strength and load capacity, making it suitable for heavy industrial corridors.
- Extends the road maintenance cycle to approximately 15 years, significantly lowering life-cycle infrastructure costs.
Why it matters
- Provides a practical solution for solid waste management in steel manufacturing hubs, reducing slag dumping in landfills.
- Aligns with sustainable infrastructure development by preserving natural riverbed and quarry aggregates.
Prelims facts
- Steel slag replaces natural aggregates in road construction, lowering cost and increasing load capacity.
Mains discussion
- Discuss the role of industrial byproduct utilization in achieving sustainable infrastructure under circular economy principles.
Source: PIB
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
-
2020 · Q78 · General Studies · 2 marks
In rural road construction, the use of which of the following is preferred for ensuring environmental sustainability or to reduce carbon footprint? 1. Copper slag 2. Cold mix asphalt technology 3. Geotextiles -
2020 · Q76 · General Studies · 2 marks
Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agricultural soil 3. Production of cement Select the correct answer using the code given below: