In a groundbreaking move for sustainable infrastructure, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has unveiled the world’s first steel slag road constructed within a private port. Located at Hazira Port in Surat, the 1.1-kilometer-long road connects the Multi-Purpose Berth (MPB-1) to the coal yard, marking a pioneering step in circular economy-driven port development.
The road utilizes processed steel slag aggregates, a by-product of steel manufacturing, repurposed here to create a durable, high-performance surface. This project positions India as a global leader in eco-friendly maritime infrastructure, being only the third steel slag road in the country and the first of its kind within a private port worldwide.
Developed under Phase II of the Bulk and General Cargo Terminal (BGCT) expansion, the initiative was executed in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. The flexible pavement design, crafted by CSIR-CRRI, enhances load-bearing capacity and longevity while reducing both construction costs and environmental footprint.
The road inauguration was held at Hazira Port, with key figures such as Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Member (Science and Technology), NITI Aayog; N. Kalaiselvi, Director-General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR; and Manoranjan Parida, Director, CSIR-CRRI, in attendance. Satish Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist and inventor of steel slag road technology, also participated alongside Anand Marathe, COO of Adani Hazira Port Ltd., among other dignitaries.
APSEZ highlighted that this initiative aligns with the national Waste to Wealth mission and demonstrates its ongoing commitment to sustainable port infrastructure. “APSEZ continues to lead the transformation of India’s logistics sector by integrating innovation, industrial ecology, and infrastructure resilience to support national growth,” the company said in a statement.
–Input IANS
