Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is taking concrete steps towards sustainable urban infrastructure by seriously considering the use of plastic waste in road construction. A high-level meeting, chaired by Mrs. Usha Padhi, Principal Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department, was recently held in Bhubaneswar to discuss this innovative approach. 
Odisha Plans Plastic-Waste Roads for Greener Cities


Focus on Sustainability and Environmental Solutions

Mrs. Padhi emphasized the critical need for Odisha to adopt permanent and environmentally friendly practices in developing urban infrastructure. She highlighted a promising solution: integrating plastic waste into road-building materials. Specifically, the method involves shredding plastic items like bottles and carry bags into small pieces. These plastic fragments are then mixed with hot bitumen and aggregate – the standard materials used for road surfaces.

Proven Technology, Dual Benefits

This technology isn't experimental; it's already successfully deployed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on various projects. The Odisha committee discussed how this method offers significant dual advantages: 
  • Enhanced Road Quality: Roads built with plastic-bitumen mix demonstrate greater durability, strength, and resistance to water damage compared to conventional roads.
  • Effective Waste Management: It provides a practical and large-scale solution to the growing challenge of plastic waste disposal, diverting tons of non-recyclable plastic from landfills and the environment.

Pilot Projects and Circular Economy Goals

Driven by a commitment to creating a pollution-free and sustainable environment, the Odisha government is now actively exploring this strategy. The meeting focused on the potential to launch pilot projects in selected urban areas across the state. These initial projects will test the feasibility and effectiveness of using plastic waste in local road construction conditions.
Officials underscored that this initiative would significantly contribute to reducing environmental pollution. Furthermore, it represents a step towards a circular economy model – where waste is transformed into a valuable resource for new infrastructure, creating a sustainable loop and reducing reliance on virgin materials. The long-term vision is to scale up this technology across Odisha based on the success of these pilot projects.

Key Officials Participate

The important meeting took place at Kharavela Bhawan. Attendees included technical experts and senior officials crucial to urban planning and highway development:
  • Dr. N. Thirumala Naik, Vice Chairman, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA)
  • Mr. J.P. Verma, Project Director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
  • Mr. Abinas Behera, Technical RO Manager, NHAI
  • Mr. Vilas Behera, IIC PH
  • Mr. Binay Das, Additional Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Dept.
  • Mr. Ratnakar Sahoo, Additional Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC)
  • Other senior officials from relevant departments.
This move positions Odisha at the forefront of Indian states seeking innovative, eco-friendly solutions for both infrastructure development and persistent plastic waste management challenges.