Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday advocated faster adoption of steel slag based road construction and repair technology, particularly in hilly and Himalayan regions, describing it as a sustainable and resilient solution for terrains prone to heavy rainfall and frequent road damage.
Addressing an event marking the signing of an agreement between the Technology Development Board and Visakhapatnam based industry partner Ramuka Global Eco Work Private Limited for the commercial rollout of ECOFIX, a ready to use pothole repair mix, the Minister said targeted outreach and training were essential as awareness of the technology remained limited in many hill states and union territories.
Dr Jitendra Singh announced that a two day workshop on steel slag road technology would be held next week in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by similar programmes in other hill states and union territories. The workshops are aimed at sensitising engineers and officials from road construction departments about the application and benefits of steel slag based solutions. He said Himalayan regions stand to gain the most due to short working seasons, difficult terrain and recurring road damage, yet adoption on the ground has been uneven.
Tracing the evolution of the technology, the Minister said trials began nearly two years ago with pilot projects in Surat in Gujarat and parts of the North East including Arunachal Pradesh. Since then, steel slag based road repair solutions have been deployed to varying degrees in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. However, he noted that even senior engineers in some states remained unaware of the technology, highlighting the need for proactive dissemination by government agencies and industry partners.
The agreement signed at the event enables commercial production of ECOFIX, a pothole repair mix developed by CSIR Central Road Research Institute and supported by the Technology Development Board. The product uses processed iron and steel slag, converting industrial waste into a construction input. Designed as a ready to use mix, ECOFIX can be applied even in wet or waterlogged conditions, significantly reducing repair time and traffic disruption.
Officials said the technology has undergone laboratory validation and extensive field testing under Indian climatic and traffic conditions. Studies indicate improved durability and lower life cycle costs compared to conventional repair methods. The use of steel slag also supports circular economy objectives by reducing reliance on natural aggregates and addressing industrial waste disposal challenges.
Dr Jitendra Singh stressed that publicly funded research must translate into visible public benefit. He said innovations such as ECOFIX demonstrate how scientific research can move from laboratories to everyday use by addressing common but critical problems like potholes, which impact road safety, vehicle damage and commuter stress. He also pointed to the evolving nature of public private partnerships, noting that in this project the private partner’s investment matched government support, reflecting a more balanced collaboration model.
The Technology Development Board and Ramuka Global Eco Work Private Limited plan to establish an iron and steel slag processing facility with an annual capacity of nearly two lakh tonnes. Commercial production is expected to begin by the end of 2027. The proposed location near major steel plants is expected to ensure steady raw material availability while generating direct and indirect employment.
Concluding his remarks, the Minister said wider adoption of steel slag technology could help states build more resilient and cost efficient road infrastructure while advancing sustainability goals. He called on state governments and the media to play an active role in spreading awareness so that such technologies reach regions where they are most needed, particularly across the Himalayan belt.
The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Dr Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR; Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, Technology Development Board; Dr C H Ravi Sekhar, Director, CSIR Central Road Research Institute; senior officials from the Department of Science and Technology, the Technology Development Board and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; and representatives of Ramuka Global Eco Work Private Limited.
