Union Minister of Steel Ram Chandra Prasad Singh on Wednesday (15 June) inaugurated India's first six lane 1 km road made by using steel slag at Gujarat's Surat to connect the port with the city.

The road constructed by 100 per cent use of steel processed slag is a real example of converting waste into wealth and improving sustainability of steel plants, the minister said.

The minister further said that the use of such material in road construction will not only Increase durability but also help in reducing the cost of construction as slag-based materials have better properties than natural aggregates.

The experience gained from this road will be utilised for developing detailed guidelines for widespread usages of steel slag in construction, the Steel Ministry said in a statement.

It should be noted that slag is a byproduct of steel manufacturing.

Thee Steel Minister further said that the ministry is exploring all other options to utilise such materials in road construction, agriculture as a replacement to soil nutrients and fertilizers, ballast for railways and making green cement.

Steel Ministry has already awarded several R&D projects for utilisation of different types of slags generated during manufacturing of steel and majority of which are being considered as a liability, the statement said.

The road constructed by using steel slag is also part of the R&D project sponsored by the Ministry along with other major steel players.