In a groundbreaking move toward sustainable infrastructure, the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), in partnership with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and supported by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has launched India’s first-ever road trial using technical textiles made from end-of-life waste plastic.
Trial Inauguration and Key Participants
The trial began with the inauguration of a test road section on Loop No. 1 of the elevated DND-Faridabad-KMP Expressway. The event featured prominent figures including Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR; Prof. Manoranjan Parida, Director of CSIR-CRRI; and Shri Chandrasekhar N, Head of R&D at BPCL.
Innovative Use of Recycled Plastic Modules
This project applies plastic-based geocells and modules, created by mechanically recycling mixed and multilayered plastic waste—a type typically difficult to manage and currently excluded from Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines. These recycled modules, ranging from 4 to 8 mm in thickness, are laid in the granular subbase layer of the pavement. Consequently, they enhance the road’s structural strength and durability.
Scale and Environmental Impact of the Trial
Covering 160 meters and spanning 1,280 square meters, the trial section utilizes several tonnes of end-of-life plastic waste. As per NBM&CW, this initiative not only addresses the plastic waste crisis at scale but also improves road performance while aligning with the Government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan campaign.
A Milestone in Circular Economy Integration
This pioneering application of technical textiles in road construction marks a significant milestone in India’s journey toward incorporating circular economy principles into infrastructure development.
Leadership Commends Innovative Efforts
Dr. Kalaiselvi praised the CRRI team, led by Prof. Parida, for their innovative efforts in giving a “new lease of life” to end-of-life plastics, likening the process to a phoenix rising from the ashes. She emphasized that plastic, once deemed unrecoverable, is now being repurposed innovatively, adding, “I see this as a powerful addition to our integrated technological ecosystem.”
Prof. Parida also congratulated the team and acknowledged BPCL’s support. He highlighted that while waste plastic and steel slag have been used before in road construction, this project introduces a novel application of end-of-life plastics.
Future Plans for Expansion and Strategic Trials
Dr. Ambika Behl, Principal Scientist at CRRI, shared ambitious plans to extend this solution to more national highways, especially in strategic areas. She mentioned upcoming trials with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Military Engineering Services (MES), where road-building challenges are higher. According to her, using geocells will save time, reduce costs, and benefit the environment significantly.
Upcycling Plastic Waste into High-Value Products
Gagandeep Singh, Principal Scientist at CSIR-CRRI, explained the breakthrough in plastic waste management. He emphasized that upcycling does more than recover materials—it transforms waste into high-value products. In this case, the final product is a technical textile known as a geocell, which directly benefits road construction and other infrastructure projects.
BPCL Highlights the Scale of Plastic Utilization
Dr. V. Ravi Kumar from BPCL highlighted the project’s impact by noting, “The beauty of this concept lies in recycling end-of-life plastic, material that otherwise has no viable disposal route. To put it into perspective, in just 100 meters of road, we are able to utilize around 30 tonnes of waste plastic.”
