India’s First 100% Steel Slag Road in Gujarat

Source: https://www.enviroannotations.com/#h.ffk3ujmab11f

New Delhi: ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India under the Ministry of Steel sponsored research project to CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) to facilitate the steel slag utilisation in road construction as an alternate aggregate, has taken initiative to build India’s first Steel Slag Road using 100% processed steel slag aggregates in all layers of bituminous pavement under the technological guidance and supervision of CSIR-CRRI.

Around 1 Lakh tons of processed steel slag aggregates has been utilised in the construction of 1.2 km long six lane bituminous road. Steel slag is one of the major solid wastes generated in the steel industry. India, being the world’s second largest steel producer also faces the challenges of safe and gainful disposal of 18.5 million tons of steel slag generated annually in India from various integrated steel plants.

CSIR-CRRI under the flagship program of Govt. of India Waste to Wealth is exploring the possible Utilisation of Steel Slag as substitute of natural aggregate in road construction. The Ministry of Steel as per the directives of Niti Aayog has sponsored a major R&D project for “Development of Design Guidelines and Specifications for Utilisation of Steel Slag in Road Construction” to CRRI. Under this project four major steel industries in India ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, Tata Steel, JSW Steel and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited are participating as Industrial partners to accomplish the steel slag utilisation in road construction.

Under CSIR-CRRI technological guidance and supervision a 1.2 km long steel slag road has been built at Hazira port road Surat, Gujarat by successfully converting steel slag as processed EAF steel slag aggregates at AMNS India steel plant at Hazira Surat. This road is constructed by substituting natural aggregates with 100 % processed EAF slag aggregates with 30 % reduced thickness. Around 1000 to 1200 commercial vehicles are using the road for the last one year and still the road is performing well on different serviceability parameters. Aruni Mishra, Vice President AMNS India has informed that the Steel slag aggregates has been processed at AMNS plant Hazira as per the prescribed parameters by CSIR- CRRI .

Satish Pandey, Principal Scientist, CSIR-CRRI and Project Leader of the research has informed that the Steel Slag road built through processed steel slag is exhibiting higher strength and load resistance. CRRI has carried out the instrumentation of the road section and monitoring all load induced stress, strain and deflection corresponding to traffic loads.

Utilisation of Steel slag aggregates as a substitute of natural aggregate in road construction will reduce the unsustainable quarrying and mining of natural aggregates and will also reduce the emission of Greenhouse Gases associated with road construction activities. This green initiative also fulfils India’s commitment for United Nation Sustainable Development Goal no. 9 for Building Resilient Infrastructure through inclusive and sustainable industrialization and green technologies.