THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI/SALEM, JANUARY 25, 2026

In a major boost to sustainable infrastructure and India’s circular economy ambitions, the CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and JSW Steel Limited, Salem Works, have entered into a strategic partnership to construct eco-friendly and durable roads using steel slag, an industrial by-product traditionally treated as waste. The collaboration marks a significant step towards translating the national vision of “From Waste to Wealth” into on-ground infrastructure development.

The Memorandum of Agreement, signed on January 24, 2026, aims to scientifically valorise steel slag and deploy it in road construction in Tamil Nadu, aligning closely with Government of India policies on resource efficiency, reduction of carbon emissions, and the adoption of green technologies in public infrastructure. By converting industrial waste into a valuable construction material, the initiative promises to reduce dependence on natural aggregates while simultaneously addressing the challenge of large-scale waste management in the steel sector.

Under the partnership, JSW Steel Limited, Salem Works — one of the major steel manufacturing units of the JSW Group — has collaborated with CSIR-CRRI through a sponsored research project titled *“Development of Customized Steel Slag Valorisation Process for Techno-economic Conversion of EOF and LRF Steel Slag for Various Road Applications at JSW Salem Works.”* The project focuses on processing Electric Optimization Furnace (EOF) and Ladle Refining Furnace (LRF) steel slag into high-quality slag aggregates suitable for bituminous road construction, ensuring both technical robustness and economic viability.

The MoA signing ceremony at JSW Steel Limited, Salem Works, was held in the distinguished presence of Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Kalaiselvi underlined the national and global relevance of CSIR-CRRI’s Steel Slag Road® technology, which has already been successfully implemented in several states across India. Leading steel producers such as AMNS India, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), Jindal Steel, and Arjas Steel have adopted this technology under CSIR-CRRI’s technical guidance. She noted that the present collaboration would enable the first-ever implementation of Steel Slag Road technology in Tamil Nadu, opening new avenues for sustainable road construction in the state.

The agreement was formally exchanged between Dr. Chalumuri Ravi Sekhar, Director, CSIR-CRRI, and B. N. S. Prakash Rao, Executive Vice President and Plant Head, JSW Steel Salem Works, marking the official commencement of the project. Senior CSIR-CRRI officials, including Dr. Vinod Karar, Head of the PME Division, and Satish Pandey, Senior Principal Scientist and inventor of the Steel Slag Road technology, were present alongside senior leadership from JSW Steel Salem Works, reflecting strong institutional commitment from both sides.

The project roadmap includes detailed laboratory characterisation of steel slag, development of customised processing protocols, construction of a demonstration road section near Salem, and long-term performance monitoring to validate field results. By lowering the carbon footprint of road construction, minimising industrial waste, and promoting the use of indigenous materials, the initiative strongly aligns with national priorities such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat, sustainable development, and circular economy practices.

Expected to serve as a replicable and scalable model, the partnership is poised to encourage wider adoption of steel slag in road infrastructure across the country, reinforcing India’s journey towards greener, more resilient, and future-ready infrastructure.