India generates 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, and nearly 10,000 hectares of precious urban land are buried under overflowing dump sites. But what if this mounting problem could become the solution to building better roads? That’s exactly what the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is turning into reality with an ambitious plan to transform all legacy municipal waste into road construction material by 2027.
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NHAI Visionary Announcement
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced in September 2025 that NHAI is working towards segregating solid waste for use in road construction by 2027. Speaking at the inauguration of a four-lane flyover in Nagpur, the minister revealed that NHAI has already segregated 80 lakh tonnes of municipal solid waste in Delhi and Ahmedabad and used it in road construction.
This isn’t just an environmental initiative—it’s a dual-purpose revolution addressing India’s twin challenges of waste management and infrastructure development simultaneously.
| NHAI Waste-to-Road Initiative | Key Facts |
|---|---|
| Target Year | 2027 |
| Waste Already Utilized | 80 lakh tonnes (Delhi & Ahmedabad) |
| Total Annual Waste in India | 62 million tonnes |
| Land Used for Dump Sites | 10,000 hectares |
| Waste Usable for Roads | 65-75% of segregated municipal waste |
| Aligned Programs | Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 |
| Pilot Projects | Delhi-NCR, Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway |
| Heavy Metals Status | Within permissible limits (non-hazardous) |
How Does Waste Become Road?
The process isn’t as simple as dumping garbage onto highways. Based on research by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), about 65-75% of segregated municipal solid waste can be used for embankment construction. The methodology involves:
Bio-mining and Bio-remediation: Legacy waste undergoes biological processing to extract inert soil materials suitable for construction.
Testing and Quality Control: Leachate studies indicate that MSW is non-hazardous material as concentration of heavy metals is within the permissible limit.
Strategic Layering: The inert material is used in highway embankments with specific design cross-sections for varying heights.
Moisture Control and Compaction: Just like traditional road construction, but with recycled materials.
The Success Stories
The pilot projects in Delhi-NCR and the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway have proven the concept works. According to CSIR-CRRI, these demonstrations showed that waste-based embankments perform comparably to conventional materials while solving disposal problems.
But NHAI’s environmental commitment extends beyond municipal waste. In 2023-24, NHAI reused over 63 million tonnes of waste materials including fly ash, pond ash, plastic waste, and reclaimed asphalt in highway construction. Even more impressive? Greenhouse gas emissions fell from 1.0 to 0.8 metric tonnes of CO₂ per km despite constructing 6,634 km of highways—a 20% increase over the previous year.
The Environmental Impact
The numbers tell a compelling story:
- Approximately 7 tonnes of plastic are reused for each kilometre of four-lane highways
- NHAI planted 5.6 million trees in 2023-24 and planned 6.75 million in 2024-25
- Water consumption in arid regions was cut by 74% through efficient usage practices
As Minister Gadkari noted, “Sustainability is now integral to road building. NHAI uses recycled materials, builds solar plants, conserves rainwater, and safeguards biodiversity”.
Challenges and the Path Forward
NHAI’s 2027 target requires scaling across all cities through phased expansion, technology transfer, and simultaneous capacity building. The success depends on:
Municipal Cooperation: Local bodies must establish bio-mining facilities funded under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0.
MoU Framework: For projects in Design, Procurement, and Construction stages, MoRTH proposes collaboration with municipal bodies through Memorandums of Understanding.
Technology Transfer: Systematic waste processing capabilities must be developed across India while maintaining technical standards and environmental compliance.
Why This Matters
The convergence of waste management and infrastructure development aligns with India’s sustainable development goals, offering a solution to two challenges facing the nation. For Indian cities drowning in garbage, this represents hope. For the infrastructure sector seeking sustainable materials, it’s a practical alternative.
The initiative integrates seamlessly with existing government programs like Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, creating a comprehensive approach to urban cleanliness and smart city development.
Economic Benefits
Beyond environmental gains, the economic impact is substantial:
- Reduces construction costs by eliminating need for virgin fill materials
- Frees up valuable urban land currently occupied by dump sites
- Decreases transportation costs for waste disposal
- Creates employment in waste segregation and processing sectors
- Reduces health hazards and associated medical costs
The Road Ahead
With existing landfills nearing maximum capacity and posing severe environmental and health hazards, NHAI’s waste-to-road program isn’t just innovative—it’s necessary. The 2027 deadline is ambitious, but the groundwork laid through pilot projects and policy guidelines from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways provides a solid foundation.
As India continues its infrastructure expansion, doing so sustainably isn’t optional—it’s imperative. NHAI’s vision transforms the age-old problem of “where do we put all this waste?” into “how can we build better roads with it?” That shift in perspective might just pave the way—literally—for India’s sustainable future.
FAQs
Q: How much municipal waste has NHAI already used in road construction?
A: NHAI has segregated and utilized 80 lakh tonnes (8 million tonnes) of municipal solid waste from Delhi and Ahmedabad in road construction projects. Additionally, in 2023-24, NHAI reused over 63 million tonnes of various waste materials including fly ash, pond ash, plastic waste, and reclaimed asphalt in highway construction across the country.
Q: Is road construction with municipal waste safe and environmentally sound?
A: Yes, according to studies conducted by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), about 65-75% of segregated municipal solid waste can be safely used for embankment construction. Leachate studies confirm that the processed municipal solid waste is non-hazardous, with heavy metal concentrations within permissible limits. The inert material is generated through bio-remediation and bio-mining of legacy waste, making it both safe and environmentally compliant for highway construction.
