New Delhi — In a remarkable step towards sustainable infrastructure, India has constructed over 43,700 kilometres of rural roads using waste plastic, Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan announced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The eco-friendly initiative, carried out under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), is connecting villages and tackling the mounting challenge of plastic waste disposal.
Paswan explained that the ministry introduced “Vision Document on New Technology Initiatives Guidelines-2022,” designed to push states and union territories towards adopting green, cost-effective, and locally sourced technologies in road construction. “States and UTs must use waste plastic in at least 70% of the total eligible road length built with the hot-mix process,” the minister stressed, underlining the government’s focus on mandatory eco-innovation.
This pioneering effort has turned a major environmental hazard into an asset — ensuring stronger, more durable rural roads while reducing the burden of plastic pollution.
Experts say roads constructed with plastic are not only resilient to wear and tear but also cheaper to maintain, making them a win-win for rural connectivity and sustainability.
With India leading by example, the project is being seen as a global model for integrating waste management with infrastructure development.