Odisha mulls over proposal for use of plastic in road construction work

Bhubaneswar, Aug 7 (UNI) The Odisha Government is mulling over a proposal on the use of plastic waste in road construction work, in sustainable and environment-friendly practices in
urban infrastructure development.

The State’s Housing and Urban Development Department, in a high-level meeting held today, deliberated the option of using plastic in road construction wor,k as such projects have been successfully executed in other parts of the country.

“The plastic waste, particularly from items such as bottles and carry bags, can be shredded and mixed with heated bitumen and aggregates to construct roads.

This method, already being successfully implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), not only enhances road durability and quality but also serves as a viable solution for plastic waste management”,
Usha Padhee, Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, said on the occasion.

Odisha, in its commitment to achieving a pollution-free and sustainable environment, is now exploring similar strategies, she said.

The meeting explored the feasibility of launching pilot projects in selected urban areas of the state by utilising plastic waste in road construction.

It was also discussed that the initiative will help reduce environmental pollution and contribute towards a circular economy.

Among those who attended the high-level meeting were N. Thirumala Naik, Vice Chairman, Bhubaneswar Development Authority; J.P. Burma, Project Director NHAI; Abinas Behera, Manager Technical NHAI; Bilas Behera, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Health; Binay Dash, Additional Secretary, H&UD; Ratnakar Sahu, Additional Commissioner, BMC; and other senior officials and stakeholders.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to take the proposal forward in a planned and technically sound manner, starting with suitable pilot roads and ensuring collaboration between various departments, Urban Local Bodies, and technical experts.