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Andhra Pradesh begins pilot project on road repairs using steel slag waste

Andhra Pradesh begins pilot project on road repairs using steel slag waste

Time of India2 days ago
Advt
By ,
ETInfra
The Andhra Pradesh government has initiated a pilot project to test road repair work using a new material made from industrial steel slag waste. The initiative was launched in Mandadam village near the state secretariat on Monday, with BC Janardhan Reddy, special chief secretary for roads and buildings, inaugurating the experimental phase, The Times of India reported.The use of steel slag — a byproduct from steel manufacturing — marks a shift in the state's infrastructure approach, aligning with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's directive to explore cost-effective and sustainable methods of road construction.The pilot involves a composite mixture called Ecofix, developed using steel slag and tar. The material has been under study by experts for its potential in pothole repairs, particularly during the monsoon season. According to officials, Ecofix is being monitored to assess its effectiveness under such conditions, with future repair and construction work likely to be based on the findings.Reddy said it is part of the Chief Minister's vision of creating 'wealth from waste'. He further explained that experts are monitoring the effectiveness of the Ecofix mixture for repairing potholes during the rainy season.Ecofix differs from traditional tar-based repair materials in that it does not require heating and can be applied even when water is present on the road surface. Officials say this feature makes it suitable for rainy weather conditions. The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) has tested the mixture and found it to be more durable and cost-efficient than current alternatives, according to the government.The use of industrial waste in road construction is also being viewed as a measure to reduce environmental impact, particularly pollution of land, water, and air. The state government has indicated that scaling up the use of such materials may also reduce the financial burden on public infrastructure spending.
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