Raigarh/New Delhi: Jindal Steel Limited (JSL), in collaboration with CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI), has achieved a Guinness World Records title for constructing the longest road exclusively with processed steel slag aggregates.
The road at Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, is a four-lane divided one that runs for 1.85 km. This makes it equivalent to 7.4 lane-km. It was constructed using nearly 200,000 tonnes of processed EAF steel slag and is designed for heavy commercial traffic, with a loading of 65 million standard axle repetitions, the company has said.
Under the project steel slag is converted into engineered road aggregates through controlled ageing and stabilisation, recovery of entrapped metal, crushing, screening, grading and quality checks.
“The material underwent physical, mechanical, geotechnical and environmental testing before being used across the full pavement depth, including formation, granular and bituminous layers,” it said.
This enabled 100% replacement of natural aggregates, saving approximately 200,000 tonnes of virgin stone and reducing dependence on quarrying and the associated extraction, processing and transportation. The pavement is approximately 35% thinner, with estimated construction cost savings of up to 40%.
“India’s growth must be powered by innovation that creates economic value while protecting our environment. This achievement shows how science, technology and industry can transform industrial co-products into valuable resources for nation-building. It is a strong example of the circular economy in action,” Naveen Jindal, chairman, JSL, said.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union minister of science and technology, Government of India, hailed the development and said: “The Raigarh road is a strong demonstration of India’s ability to translate scientific innovation into practical infrastructure solutions. By transforming steel slag into a high-value resource for road construction, the project reflects the vision of ‘Waste to Wealth’ and showcases the potential of indigenous technology to address real-world challenges. I am confident that this technology will find wider application across the country.”
The processed slag was tested for environmental suitability under prescribed methods and cleared for road use.
Jindal Steel and CSIR-CRRI have signed a technology transfer agreement to facilitate wider adoption of the technology beyond Raigarh.