Road and Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari recently shared exciting updates on India’s highway development. He emphasized that roads are now built to international standards. New technologies are being explored to tackle damage from rains, floods, and cloudbursts. This ensures durability and sustainability for future needs.
Gadkari spoke at the Panchjanya Infra Confluence in New Delhi. He highlighted the use of treated sewage water for construction. This innovative approach conserves precious freshwater resources. It also supports eco-friendly infrastructure growth.
Natural challenges like cloudbursts and record rainfall cause problems. The ministry is constantly exploring new technologies to address these issues. This proactive approach helps maintain road quality despite weather extremes.
Steel slag from the steel industry is now tapped for road construction. Fly ash from thermal plants is also being utilized. This reduces industrial waste and improves road quality. Every day brings new adoptions of such sustainable practices.
From fly ash in cement to municipal solid waste, materials are repurposed. This makes roads stronger and more sustainable. Attention is also given to proper drainage along roads. Precast drains and storm drains are now mandatory to prevent waterlogging.
Recently, a presentation showcased waste plastic in road construction. A special plastic layer increases road lifespan by four to five years. It also makes productive use of waste plastic, reducing environmental pollution.
The ministry is working on prefabricated road slabs for faster construction. These slabs are factory-made in sizes like 3×3 meters and 4×6 meters. They are tested to standard and joined seamlessly. This brings consistency and speeds up project timelines.
Experiments with several such innovations are underway. Nearly 80 lakh tonnes of solid waste have been used in major projects. The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and Ahmedabad-Dholera Highway are prime examples.
Studies show massive garbage dumps in Indian cities. Four are in Delhi alone, with 50 across 15 major cities. A plan is made to use all municipal waste in road construction by 2027. This will free the country from garbage mountains.
On eco-friendly initiatives, treated sewage water is sold in Nagpur. It generates about Rs 300 crore annually. Similar projects are underway in Mathura. Small-scale STPs are set up for construction use, saving potable water.
Over five crore trees have been planted by the ministry. More than 20 lakh trees were transplanted across projects. In Paithan, Maharashtra, centuries-old banyan trees were successfully relocated.
Bamboo crash barriers are another pioneering innovation. Instead of steel, 80 km of bamboo barriers have been built. They are stronger than steel, eco-friendly, and sourced locally from the Northeast.
On the energy front, stubble is now used to produce bio-CNG. Bio-refineries are being set up in Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Six bio-bitumen refineries have already started operations.
These innovations aim to make farmers both annadatas and urjadatas. They provide food and energy, supporting a sustainable economy. India’s roads are becoming models of green engineering.