Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Rural Development's response to questions regarding the use of plastic waste in road construction under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and other schemes. It provides data on road construction using plastic waste over the last five years, details the steps taken to promote its use, and addresses environmental safety and durability. The data is current as of August 13, 2025, with pilot program data updated until July 31, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Road Construction Using Plastic Waste:
* The length of roads constructed using waste plastic under PMGSY from 2020-2021 to August 13, 2025, totals 29,723 km.
* As of July 31, 2025, 56,875 km of road works have been sanctioned using waste plastic under PMGSY, with 43,700 km completed.
* State-wise and year-wise details can be accessed at http:omms.nic.inproposalstechnology abstract.
Promotion of Plastic Waste Use:
* The Ministry issued Vision Document on New Technology Initiatives Guidelines 2022 to promote green technology, including the use of waste materials.
* States/UTs must use waste plastic in at least 70% of the eligible proposed length involving the Hot Mix process in PMGSY roads.
* The type and size of plastics are regulated as per "Guidelines for the use of waste plastic in hot bituminous mixes Dry process in wearing courses" issued by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC).
* Indian Road Congress (IRC) has issued guidelines, specifically IRC:SP:98-2013, for the use of waste plastic in hot bituminous mixes.
Environmental Safety and Durability:
* Using waste plastic in road construction reduces environmental impact by diverting waste from landfills.
* Performance evaluation by IIT Madras found reduced distresses (raveling, cracking, potholes) and higher Pavement Condition Index (PCI) values compared to conventional pavements.
* Maintenance can generally be deferred by about one year, with a marginal reduction in overall life cycle cost compared to conventional roads.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/Union Territories:
Impact: Required to implement the guidelines for using waste plastic in road construction.
Action Required: Ensure that at least 70% of eligible road length under PMGSY uses waste plastic in the Hot Mix process, adhering to IRC guidelines.
Road Construction Agencies:
Impact: Must adopt new technologies and materials, including waste plastic, in road construction projects.
Action Required: Implement the use of waste plastic as per the Ministry's guidelines and IRC standards, focusing on hot bituminous mixes.
Indian Roads Congress (IRC):
Impact: Their guidelines (IRC:SP:98-2013) are the standard for the use of waste plastic in road construction.
Action Required: Continue to update and refine guidelines based on performance data and technological advancements.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras:
Impact: Responsible for evaluating the performance of roads constructed with waste plastic.
Action Required: Continue to supervise performance evaluations and provide data on the cost-efficiency and durability of plastic waste roads.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana PMGSY: A rural road construction scheme in India, under which plastic waste is being used.
Indian Roads Congress IRC: An organization that has issued guidelines for the use of waste plastic in hot bituminous mixes for road construction.
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and the promotion of using plastic waste in road construction.
Guidelines2022: Vision Document on New Technology Initiatives Guidelines issued by Ministry to promote adoption of new green Technology in the construction of rural roads
Indian Institute of Technology IIT, Madras: An engineering institute that supervised the performance evaluation of rural roads constructed with waste plastic.
Shri Kamlesh Paswan: Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development.
Guidelines for the use of waste plastic in hot bituminous mixes Dry process in wearing courses: Issued by the Indian Roads Congress IRC. Regulates type of plastics to be used in PMGSY roads
IRC:SP:982013: Indian Road Congress guidelines for the use of waste plastic in hot bituminous mixes dry process in wearing courses
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4189
ANSWERED ON 19/08/2025
Construction of Roads using Plastic Wastes
4189. Shri NareshGanpatMhaske:
Smt. Shambhavi:
Shri RavindraDattaramWaikar:
Dr. ShrikantEknathShinde:
Shri Rajesh Verma:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the data on the number of kilometers of rural roads
constructed using plastic waste under Pradhan Mantri Gram
SadakYojana (PMGSY) or other schemes during the last five
years, State and year-wise;
(b) the data on the number of pilot villages or districts where
plastic waste road models have been successfully
implemented as of July 2025, State and year-wise;
(c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to promote
the use of plastic waste in road construction under PMGSY;
(d) the details of the steps have been taken by the Government to
ensure environmental safety and durability in roads
constructed with plastic waste; and
(e) whether the Government has conducted any assessment or
have any evaluation reports or performance audits available on
the cost-efficiency and performance of plastic waste roads
compared to conventional ones?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a): The length of road constructed using waste plastic under
various verticals of Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY)
during the last five years is given below:
Year Length constructed using Waste plastic
Page 1 of 3(in km)
2020-21 3133
2021-22 8848
2022-23 6382
2023-24 5241
2024-25 4061
2025-26 (Till 13.08.25) 2058
The State-wise/year-wise details of road length constructed using
new technology (waste plastic) under various verticals of PMGSY
may be accessed at http://omms.nic.in>proposals>technology
abstract.
(b): As on 31.7.25, a total of 56,875 km of road works has been
sanctioned using waste plastic, under various interventions/
verticals of PMGSY, out of which 43,700 km of road works have
been completed. The State-wise/year-wise details of road length
constructed using new technology under various verticals of PMGSY
may be accessed at http://omms.nic.in>proposals>technology
abstract.
(c) & (d): To promote adoption of new/ green Technology in the
construction of rural roads using new materials/ waste materials/
locally available materials under PMGSY, the Ministry has issued
“Vision Document on New Technology Initiatives Guidelines-2022”.
As per the guidelines, States/ UTs have to compulsorily use waste
plastic in at least 70% length out of the eligible proposed length
involving the Hot Mix process in PMGSY roads. The type of plastics
to be used in this process and the required size are regulated as per
"Guidelines for the use of waste plastic in hot bituminous mixes
(Dry process) in wearing courses" issued by the Indian Roads
Congress (IRC).
This helps reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste
by diverting it from landfills/ sea and using it productively. Also The
Indian Road Congress (IRC) has issued guidelines, specifically
IRC:SP:98-2013, for the use of waste plastic in hot bituminous mixes
(dry process) in wearing courses. This document encourages the
use of waste plastic in road construction to promote sustainable
Page 2 of 3development and reduce plastic waste. Till July, 2025, 43,700 km of
roads using waste plastic technology has been completed under
PMGSY.
(e): Waste plastic is being used in thin bituminous surfaces under
the scheme. The performance evaluation of rural roads constructed
with waste plastic was carried out by seven institutes under the
supervision of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras. The
study found that distresses such as raveling, cracking, and potholes
were significantly lower compared to conventional pavements.
Pavement Condition Index (PCI) values for waste plastic roads were
found higher, indicating better overall surface condition. The
analysis further showed that the maintenance of these roads can
generally be deferred by about one year and that there is a marginal
reduction in overall life cycle cost compared to conventional roads.
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