Bhubaneswar, Aug 7: In a progressive move toward sustainable urban development, the Government of Odisha is exploring the use of plastic waste in road construction.

A high-level meeting chaired by Smt. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department, was held to discuss the feasibility of this eco-friendly initiative.

Smt. Padhee emphasized the importance of adopting environmentally responsible practices in infrastructure development. She highlighted that plastic waste — especially from bottles and carry bags — can be shredded and mixed with heated bitumen and aggregates to construct durable roads.

This technique, already in use by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), not only improves road quality but also offers a practical solution to plastic waste management.

The meeting proposed launching pilot projects in select urban areas to test the viability of plastic roads. Officials agreed that this initiative could significantly reduce environmental pollution and support a circular economy by repurposing non-biodegradable waste.

Key attendees included Dr. N. Thirumala Naik (Vice Chairman, BDA), J.P. Burma (Project Director, NHAI), Abinas Behera (Manager Technical, RO NHAI), Bilas Behera (EIC PH), Binay Dash (Additional Secretary, H&UD), and Ratnakar Sahu (Additional Commissioner, BMC), among others.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to move forward with technically sound pilot projects, ensuring collaboration between departments, urban local bodies (ULBs), and technical experts. The initiative marks a significant step in Odisha’s commitment to a cleaner, greener future.

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