**Executive Summary**
A Research and Development (R&D) pact has been signed between CSIR-CRRI and Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS India) to explore the utilization of iron ore tailings in road construction. This initiative aims to promote circular economy principles and sustainable infrastructure development by converting mine waste into usable materials for roads. The R&D pact will involve laboratory investigations, material characterization, and pavement design studies to evaluate the suitability of iron ore tailings.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**R&D Collaboration and Purpose**
* A pact between CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS India) has been signed to research the utilization of iron ore tailings in road construction.
* The initiative aims to convert mine waste into green roads, aligning with circular economy and waste-to-wealth principles for sustainable infrastructure.
* This R&D effort addresses the challenge of managing iron ore tailings and reduces the demand for natural aggregates in road construction.
**Iron Ore Tailings and Their Management**
* Approximately 18–20 million tonnes of iron ore tailings are generated annually in India from beneficiation plants, primarily in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka.
* These tailings, stored in large dams and referred to as "slimes," pose environmental and economic challenges due to their significant volume.
* Systematic research, laboratory characterization, and valorisation of iron ore tailings will be undertaken to establish their suitability as a substitute for good earth and natural aggregates.
**Research and Development Activities**
* CSIR-CRRI researchers will conduct laboratory investigations, material characterization, and pavement design studies.
* The goal is to evaluate the suitability of iron ore tailings for use in various pavement layers.
* The collaboration will enable scientific validation and field demonstration of iron ore tailings for road construction.
**Broader Technological Advancements**
* The National Science Day celebration also showcased other sustainable transportation infrastructure technologies developed by CSIR-CRRI.
* These include agri-waste-based bio-bitumen, steel slag-based pothole repair technology (ECOFIX), slag and fly ash-based TERASURFACING technology, and waste plastic-based modular geocells.
* These advancements emphasize the need for circular economy approaches in road construction.
**Impact Analysis**
**CSIR-CRRI**
* **Impact:** Will gain R&D collaboration for a critical environmental and infrastructural challenge, leading to potential new technologies and publications. Will also leverage its expertise in Steel Slag Road Technology for this new initiative.
* **Action Required:** Conduct laboratory investigations, material characterization, and pavement design studies on iron ore tailings.
**Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS India)**
* **Impact:** Will benefit from research aimed at utilizing its industrial by-products, contributing to sustainability goals and potentially reducing waste management costs.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the R&D pact, potentially providing resources or iron ore tailings for research and field trials.
**Road Construction Sector**
* **Impact:** Potential access to a new, sustainable material source for road construction, which could reduce reliance on natural aggregates and mitigate environmental issues associated with tailings.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate and potentially adopt iron ore tailings in road construction projects once proven viable and standardized.
**Environmental Sector**
* **Impact:** Potential reduction in environmental burden associated with storing large volumes of iron ore tailings, including land use and potential pollution.
* **Action Required:** Support the development and implementation of sustainable solutions for iron ore tailings management.
**Government and Policymakers**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to advance national goals for sustainable infrastructure development and the circular economy, potentially leading to new policies and frameworks.
* **Action Required:** Facilitate and support such R&D initiatives and their subsequent implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI): The primary research institute involved in the R&D pact and developing technologies for sustainable infrastructure.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi: Director General CSIR and Secretary DSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology, who emphasized the utilization of iron ore tailings.
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS India): Steel major that has signed an R&D pact with CSIR-CRRI to explore the utilization of iron ore tailings.
Iron Ore Tailings: The waste material from iron ore beneficiation plants that is being explored for use in road construction.
Ministry of Science and Technology: The ministry under which CSIR and DSIR operate, indicating governmental oversight and support for the initiative.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Utilization of Iron Ore Tailings in Road
Construction will pave the way from Mine Waste
to Green Roads: Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, DG CSIR and
Secretary, DSIR
CRRI and AMNS India Seal R&D Pact to explore utilization of
iron ore tailings in road construction
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 12:02PM by PIB Delhi
On the occasion of National Science Day Celebration in CSIR-Central Road Research Institute, a R&D
pact is signed between India’s premier Road Research Institute, CSIR-CRRI, and Steel major Arcelor
Mittal Nippon Steel India to explore the utilization of iron ore tailings in road construction.
During this occasion, highlighting the importance of circular economy and waste to wealth conversion for
green infrastructure development, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General CSIR and Secretary DSIR,
Ministry of Science and Technology, emphasized that the potential utilization of Iron Ore Tailings in
Road Construction can pave the way from Mine Waste to Green Roads. While lauding the institute
for its pioneering work in converting waste materials such as steel slag for Steel Slag Road construction,
Director General, CSIR highlighted that around 18–20 million tonnes of iron ore tailings are generated
annually in the country from various iron ore beneficiation plants spread across Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and
Karnataka. Iron ore tailings; pose environmental and economic challenges due to their large volumes.
These tailings are stored in large dams and are commonly called as slimes.
Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General CSIR and Secretary DSIR, Ministry of Science and Technology,
addressing the gatheringThis R&D pact will address the growing challenge of iron ore tailing management while simultaneously
reducing the demand for natural aggregates in road construction. Through this initiative, researchers from
CSIR–CRRI will undertake laboratory investigations, material characterization, pavement design
studies, to evaluate the suitability of iron ore tailings in various pavement layers.
Exchange of MOA between Director CSIR-CRRI Dr. Ch. Ravi Sekhar and Dr. N. Vishwanathan
Head, R&D AMNS India
The programme was graced by Dr. Arvind Bodhankar, Chief Sustainability Officer, AMNS India, as
the Chief Guest, who emphasized the importance of industry–research partnerships in advancing circular
economy principles and sustainable infrastructure development. He noted that the collaboration with
CSIR-CRRI would help unlock the potential of industrial by-products for nation-building in line with the
Sustainable Development Goal of green infrastructure development.
Felicitation of Chief Guest Dr. Arvind Bodhankar by DG CSIR and Secretary DSIR Dr. N.Kalaiselvi
Welcoming the dignitaries, Dr. Ch. Ravi Sekhar, Director, CSIR-CRRI, emphasized the Institute’s
commitment to developing next-generation sustainable road technologies. He stated that the new
collaboration with AMNS India would enable scientific validation and field demonstration of iron ore
tailings for road construction, further strengthening India’s leadership in sustainable pavement
technologies.The initiative is being led by Shri Satish Pandey, Head, Flexible Pavement Division, CSIR-CRRI, who
is also the inventor of Steel Slag Road Technology. He highlighted that systematic research, laboratory
characterization, and valorisation of iron ore tailings would be undertaken to establish it as a substitute of
good earth and natural aggregates in road construction.
The National Science Day celebration also showcased several breakthrough technologies developed by
CSIR–CRRI for sustainable transportation infrastructure, including agri-waste-based bio-bitumen, steel
slag-based rapid pothole repair technology ECOFIX, slag and fly ash-based thin TERASURFACING
technology for periodic maintenance of roads, and waste plastic-based modular geocell for road
construction, emphasizing the need of circular economy approaches for road construction.
The event was attended by the senior officials of AMNS India, including Section Head Raw Materials and
By Product Mr. Gautam Banerjee, Chief Scientists of CRRI, comprising Dr. Vinod Karar, Head PME, Dr.
K. Ravinder, Head, ILT, industry representatives, policymakers, and stakeholders from the road and steel
sectors, highlighting the growing importance of science-driven solutions for sustainable infrastructure
development in India.
*****
NKR/AK
(Release ID: 2238763) Visitor Counter : 225
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Tamil