Odisha Explores Plastic Waste in Road Construction for Sustainable Urban Development
State plans pilot projects to turn discarded plastics into durable roads, aligning with circular economy goals.
Bhubaneswar : A high-level meeting chaired by Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Government of Odisha, was held today to discuss the potential of using plastic waste in road construction across the state.
Padhee stressed the importance of adopting sustainable and eco-friendly methods in urban infrastructure development. She explained that plastic waste, including discarded bottles and carry bags, can be shredded and blended with heated bitumen and aggregates to create robust roads. This technology, already in use by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has been proven to enhance road quality and longevity while providing a practical approach to managing plastic waste.
The discussion reflected Odisha’s growing commitment to environmental sustainability and pollution reduction. Officials explored the feasibility of implementing pilot projects in select urban areas, where roads would be built using recycled plastic materials. This initiative is expected to not only address the challenge of plastic pollution but also support the state’s vision of a circular economy, where waste is repurposed as a valuable resource.
The meeting was attended by several key stakeholders, including Dr N Thirumala Naik, Vice Chairman of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA); JP Burma, Project Director of NHAI; Abinas Behera, Manager (Technical), RO NHAI; Bilas Behera, EIC PH; Binay Dash, Additional Secretary, H\&UD; and Ratnakar Sahu, Additional Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). Senior officials from various departments and technical experts also participated.
Participants agreed on the necessity of a coordinated approach involving multiple departments, urban local bodies, and technical teams to ensure the effective implementation of the project. It was decided that the initiative would begin with carefully chosen pilot stretches of road, where the use of plastic waste can be monitored, assessed, and refined before scaling up across the state.
Odisha’s move comes at a time when plastic pollution is a growing concern worldwide, with discarded single-use plastics posing significant threats to the environment. By incorporating waste materials into road construction, the state aims to transform an environmental challenge into an opportunity for innovation, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
The meeting concluded with a consensus to develop a detailed action plan, including technical guidelines, sourcing of plastic waste, quality checks, and collaboration frameworks between government agencies, municipal bodies, and industry partners. Once operational, the pilot projects are expected to serve as a model for other regions seeking to integrate waste management with infrastructure growth.
If successful, Odisha could set a precedent in India for turning urban waste into high-quality infrastructure, paving the way—quite literally—for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.
