Steel Slag Road Technology

• 22 Jul 2023

For Prelims: Steel Slag Road technology, Steel Slag, Waste to Wealth mission

For Mains: Steel Slag Road technology its significance in Waste to Wealth mission, Technological advancements in Road Infrastructure.

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The innovative Steel Slag Road technology developed by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), New Delhi in collaboration with the Ministry of Steel and major steel manufacturing companies is making significant strides towards the 'Waste to Wealth' mission.

• This technology is revolutionizing road construction and addressing the environmental challenges of steel slag waste.

What is Steel Slag Road Technology?

• About:
  • Steel slag road technology is a novel method of using steel slag, the waste generated during steel production, to build more robust and more durable roads.
  • The technology involves processing the steel slag to remove impurities and metal content and then using it as an aggregate for road base or sub-base layers.
  • The processed steel slag has high strength, hardness, abrasion resistance, skid resistance, and drainage capacity, making it suitable for road construction.
  • It facilitates the large-scale utilization of waste steel slag generated by steel plants, effectively managing the approximately 19 million tonnes of steel slag produced in India.

• Advantages:
  • Eco-friendly Waste Utilization:
    • By using waste steel slag in road construction, the technology offers an eco-friendly approach to managing industrial waste.
      • This reduces the burden on landfills and minimizes the environmental impact associated with steel slag disposal.
  • Cost-effective and Durable:
    • Steel slag roads have proven to be cost-effective, as they are approximately 30% cheaper to construct compared to conventional paving methods.
      • Furthermore, these roads exhibit exceptional durability and resist weather changes resulting in significantly reduced maintenance costs.
  • Reduced Reliance on Natural Resources:
    • Traditional road construction heavily relies on natural ballast and aggregates, depleting precious natural resources.
    • The Steel Slag Road technology eliminates the need for natural materials, helping conserve valuable resources and preserve natural ecosystems.
  • Addressing the Steel Slag Waste Challenge:
    • India is the world's second-largest steel-producing country, generating around 19 million tonnes of steel slag as solid waste. This figure is projected to increase to a staggering 60 million tonnes by 2030, with each tonne of steel production resulting in about 200 kg of steel slag waste.
      • The lack of efficient disposal methods has led to the accumulation of huge slag piles around steel plants, contributing to water, air, and land pollution.
• Successful Implementations:
  • Surat's Technological Marvel:
    • The first road constructed using the Steel Slag Road technology in Surat, Gujarat, has garnered recognition for its technological excellence.
  • Border Roads Organization's Contribution:
    • The technology's success extended to the India-China border, where the Border Roads Organization, along with CRRI and Tata Steel, constructed a steel slag road in Arunachal Pradesh.
    • This project demonstrated the technology's suitability for challenging terrains and critical national infrastructure.
• Promoting Nationwide Adoption:
  • The success of the Steel Slag Road technology has attracted the attention of various government agencies and ministries.
    • In collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the Ministry of Steel is actively working to promote the widespread usage of this technology across the country.
    • By fostering collaborative efforts, India aims to lead the way in sustainable road infrastructure development and achieve its 'Waste to Wealth' mission.

Waste to Wealth Mission

• This mission will identify, develop, and deploy technologies to treat waste to generate energy, recycle materials, and extract worth.
• The Waste to Wealth Mission is one of the nine national missions of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
• The mission will assist and augment the Swachh Bharat and Smart Cities projects to create circular economic models that are financially viable for waste management to streamline waste handling in the country.