Adani Ports Unveils World’s First Port-Based Steel Slag Road at Hazira Port; India’s Third Steel Slag Road

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has inaugurated the world's first steel slag road constructed within a port. Located at Hazira Port in Gujarat, this 1.1-kilometre road marks a global first and establishes a new benchmark in circular economy-driven development.

The road connects the Multi-Purpose Berth (MPB-1) to the coal yard within the port premises and has been developed using processed steel slag aggregates-a byproduct of steel manufacturing. This initiative showcases how industrial waste can be repurposed into high-performance, durable infrastructure, aligning with India's 'Waste to Wealth' mission.

World's First Steel Slag Road

The steel slag road is part of Phase-II of the Bulk and General Cargo Terminal (BGCT) expansion project. It was developed in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and supported by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.

CSIR-CRRI designed the road's flexible pavement structure to enhance load-bearing capacity and increase longevity, all while reducing construction costs and minimizing environmental impact. The innovative design exemplifies the potential of circular economy principles in large-scale infrastructure projects.

The road was formally inaugurated by Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Member (Science and Technology), NITI Aayog. The event also saw the presence of Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director-General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR; Dr. Manoranjan Parida, Director, CSIR-CRRI and President, Indian Roads Congress; and Satish Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist and inventor of the steel slag road technology.

Anand Marathe, COO of Adani Hazira Port Ltd, along with other senior officials, scientists, and dignitaries, were also in attendance at the inauguration ceremony.

This development represents India's third steel slag road overall, but the first to be built inside a port, making it a global first and positioning India and APSEZ at the forefront of sustainable maritime infrastructure.

Surat (Hazira Industrial Area), Gujarat

The very first steel slag road in India was inaugurated in March 2022 in the Hazira industrial area of Surat. Developed by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India alongside CSIR‑CRRI and NITI Aayog, this 1 km, six-lane road was built using 100% processed steel slag aggregates, replacing natural aggregates entirely. Constructed with around 100,000 tonnes of steel slag, the pavement was made 30 % thinner than conventional roads, yet it has performed exceptionally well under heavy commercial traffic

NH‑66 (Mumbai-Goa Highway), Maharashtra

The second steel slag road was constructed on the Indapur-Panvel section of NH‑66, the Mumbai-Goa Highway. Under guidance by CSIR‑CRRI and executed by JSW Steel, this 1 km section used approximately 80,000 tonnes of CONARC steel slag. It became the first steel slag road on a National Highway, featuring four lanes and showcasing greater durability and cost-effectiveness-about 28-32% cheaper and more resilient than traditional roads.