In a major stride toward sustainable infrastructure, CSIR-CRRI, in partnership with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and under the support of NHAI, has launched India’s first road trial using technical textiles created from end-of-life plastic. A test section of the DND–Faridabad–KMP Expressway now incorporates geocells and structural modules developed through mechanical recycling of mixed plastic waste—waste typically not addressed by IRC guidelines.
These recycled plastic-based modules, ranging in thickness from 4 to 8 mm, are embedded in the granular subbase to enhance road strength and durability. The 160-meter stretch covers 1,280 square meters and uses multiple tonnes of waste plastic, representing a replicable model for plastic waste management and road performance enhancement.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi (DG, CSIR & Secretary, DSIR) praised the effort as a symbolic rebirth of plastic waste, acknowledging CRRI’s innovation in giving new life to unrecyclable materials. Prof. Manoranjan Parida (Director, CRRI) emphasized this as a novel addition to earlier methods using steel slag and plastic in roads.
Principal Scientist Dr. Ambika Behl expressed plans to expand this solution to national highways and tough terrains like BRO and MES routes, highlighting benefits like time and cost savings. Dr. V. Ravi Kumar from BPCL noted that 30 tonnes of end-of-life plastic can be reused in just 100 meters of road—a breakthrough in upcycling. Gagandeep Singh of CSIR-CRRI added that this process creates high-value geocell products directly usable in infrastructure projects.
This initiative is aligned with Swachh Bharat and Circular Economy goals, marking a milestone in India’s journey to sustainable and innovative infrastructure through technical textiles.