Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh on Tuesday recommended the use of steel slag-based technology for sustainable road construction, particularly in difficult and hilly terrains, noting that its adoption in the Himalayan states and UTs remains limited and needs to be accelerated through targeted outreach and training.
Addressing an event marking the signing of an agreement between the Technology Development Board (TDB) and Visakhapatnam-based Industry partner “Ramuka Global Eco Work Private Limited” for commercial production of ECOFIX, a ready-to-use pothole repair mix, the Minister said workshops were now being organised to familiarise state agencies with the technology .
The Minister said a two-day workshop on Steel slag technology would be held next week in Jammu and Kashmir followed by other states and UTs as well, aimed at sensitising engineers and officials from road construction departments about its application and benefits.
According to the Minister, several Himalayan and hill states stand to gain the most from the technology because of shorter working seasons, heavy rainfall and frequent road damage, yet awareness on the ground remains uneven.
Tracing the journey of the technology, Dr. Singh said trials had begun around two years ago, starting with pilot projects in places such as Surat in Gujarat and parts of the Northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh. Since then, steel slag–based road repair solutions have been used to varying extents in states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
However, he pointed out that many potential users, including senior engineers in some states, were still unaware of its availability, underscoring the need for proactive dissemination by both government agencies and industry partners .
The occasion also marked the formalisation of an agreement enabling the commercial rollout of ‘ECOFIX’, a pothole repair mix developed by the CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and now being taken to market with TDB support.
The product uses processed iron and steel slag, converting industrial waste into a construction input, and is designed as a ready-to-use mix that can be applied even in wet or waterlogged conditions, reducing repair time and traffic disruption.