Jindal Steel Limited has achieved a Guinness World Records title for constructing the world’s longest road built exclusively with processed steel slag aggregates. The 1.85-km four-lane divided road has been constructed at Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, in collaboration with the CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI).
The project marks a significant development in sustainable road construction by converting steel slag, a by-product of steel manufacturing, into engineered aggregates for infrastructure. The road uses approximately 200,000 tonnes of processed electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag, replacing natural aggregates across the pavement.
1.85-Km Road Uses Processed Steel Slag
The Guinness World Records-recognised road is 1.85 km long and four lanes wide, equivalent to approximately 7.4 lane-km. It has been designed to handle heavy commercial traffic, with a loading capacity of around 65 million standard axle repetitions.
The steel slag used for the project underwent multiple processing stages, including controlled ageing and stabilisation, recovery of entrapped metal, crushing, screening, grading and quality checks. The processed material was subjected to physical, mechanical, geotechnical and environmental testing before being used in the road pavement.
Steel Slag Replaces Natural Aggregates
One of the major highlights of the project is the 100% replacement of natural aggregates with processed steel slag. According to the project details, this helped save approximately 200,000 tonnes of virgin stone and reduce dependence on quarrying and the associated extraction, processing and transportation activities.
The pavement is also reported to be approximately 35% thinner, while the project estimates construction cost savings of up to 40% compared with conventional road construction in suitable applications. The technology is being positioned as a potential waste-to-wealth solution for the infrastructure sector.
Jindal Steel and CSIR-CRRI Collaborate on Sustainable Infrastructure
The achievement is the result of collaboration between Jindal Steel and CSIR-CRRI, which has worked on developing and demonstrating the use of processed steel slag aggregates in road construction.
The technology has already been used in several infrastructure projects. Applications have included a six-lane road connecting an industrial area with Hazira Port in Gujarat, a section of the NH-66 Mumbai-Goa Highway, and road infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh. Steel slag has also been used for a road inside Hazira Port.
The latest Raigarh project has now provided the technology with international recognition through the Guinness World Records title.
Jindal Steel Launches SteelGrit
Alongside the record achievement, Jindal Steel has launched SteelGrit, its brand of processed steel slag aggregates. The company and CSIR-CRRI have also signed a technology transfer agreement aimed at supporting wider adoption of the technology beyond the Raigarh project.
Jindal Steel Chairman Naveen Jindal said the project demonstrates how science, technology and industry can convert industrial co-products into valuable resources for nation-building. He also highlighted the role of such initiatives in supporting the circular economy and reducing environmental impact.
Next 40-Km Steel Slag Road Project Planned in Odisha
The Guinness World Record project could be followed by an even larger implementation. According to the Ministry of Science & Technology, CSIR-CRRI has received a work order for a 40-km road in Odisha from Jindal Steel’s Angul plant. This project could take the steel slag road technology from the current 1.85-km record to a much larger-scale application.
Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has called for wider adoption of the technology across states, government departments and the private sector. The government has highlighted its potential to reduce road construction costs, improve road strength and extend maintenance cycles where technically and economically suitable.
A Step Towards Circular Construction
Jindal Steel’s Raigarh road demonstrates how industrial by-products can be processed and reused in large-scale infrastructure instead of relying entirely on virgin natural aggregates. The project combines steel manufacturing, scientific research and road engineering to create a practical example of circular resource use.
With the planned 40-km Odisha project, the technology could move beyond a record-setting demonstration towards wider use in India's road and infrastructure sector.
