Mine Waste to Green Roads, CSIR-CRRI, AMNS India Partner to Use Iron Ore Tailings in Road Construction

New Delhi, March 12: The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI)  under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a research and development agreement with ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS India) to explore the use of iron ore tailings in road construction. The agreement was signed during the National Science Day celebrations at the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute.

Director General of CSIR and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research N. Kalaiselvi said the utilisation of iron ore tailings in road construction could transform mine waste into green roads. She highlighted the importance of adopting circular economy practices and converting waste into useful resources for sustainable infrastructure development.

Kalaiselvi noted that around 18–20 million tonnes of iron ore tailings are generated annually in India from iron ore beneficiation plants located mainly in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. These tailings, commonly referred to as slimes, are typically stored in large dams and pose environmental and economic challenges because of their large volumes.

The R&D collaboration aims to address the growing challenge of iron ore tailing management while reducing the demand for natural aggregates used in road construction. Researchers from CRRI will conduct laboratory investigations, material characterisation and pavement design studies to assess the suitability of iron ore tailings for use in different layers of road pavements.

Chief Sustainability Officer of AMNS India Arvind Bodhankar, who attended the event as chief guest, emphasised the importance of collaboration between industry and research institutions to advance circular economy principles and sustainable infrastructure. He said the partnership would help unlock the potential of industrial by-products for nation-building and support the goal of developing green infrastructure.

Director of CSIR-CRRI Ch. Ravi Sekhar said the institute remains committed to developing next-generation sustainable road technologies. He added that the collaboration with AMNS India would enable scientific validation and field demonstrations of iron ore tailings in road construction, strengthening India’s leadership in sustainable pavement technologies.

The initiative is being led by Satish Pandey, head of the Flexible Pavement Division at CRRI and the inventor of steel slag road technology. He said systematic research and laboratory studies would be carried out to establish iron ore tailings as a viable substitute for good earth and natural aggregates used in road construction.

The National Science Day event also showcased several technologies developed by CRRI for sustainable transportation infrastructure. These included agri-waste-based bio-bitumen, steel slag-based rapid pothole repair technology ECOFIX, slag and fly ash-based TERASURFACING technology for road maintenance, and waste plastic-based modular geocells for road construction.

Senior officials from AMNS India, scientists from CRRI, industry representatives, policymakers and stakeholders from the road and steel sectors attended the event, highlighting the growing importance of science-driven solutions for sustainable infrastructure development in the country.