NRIDA Wins U.P. Medal 2025 for Steel Slag Rural Road Tech

National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), operating under the Ministry of Rural Development, has won major national recognition for sustainable infrastructure. The Indian Road Congress (IRC) selected NRIDA for the prestigious U.P. Medal for Innovative Technology in Roads 2025.

This award honors NRIDA’s pioneering work in using steel slag for rural road construction under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). By turning industrial waste into a durable building resource, the agency cuts construction expenses and promotes eco-friendly highways. The Indian Road Congress will formally present the medal during its 85th Annual Session in Hyderabad, Telangana, on November 19, 2026.

Why Did NRIDA Win the U.P. Medal 2025?

The Ministry of Rural Development and NRIDA jointly submitted their award nomination based on groundbreaking PMGSY-III road projects in Jharkhand. Sanctioned during the financial year 2022–23, this initiative spans 381.57 kilometers of rural roadways.

Steel slag is a solid industrial byproduct generated during steel manufacturing. Instead of dumping this material in landfills, engineers process it into high-strength road aggregates. The Jharkhand project proves that road agencies can replace traditional mined stone with industrial waste, protecting natural hills while solving industrial waste disposal challenges.

Steel Slag Cuts Rural Road Costs by 26%

Adopting steel slag delivered major financial savings across the Jharkhand road network. Integrating this industrial byproduct reduced overall construction costs by 26 percent.

Two key factors drove these savings:

• Local Material Availability: Proximity to major steel plants in Jharkhand minimized freight distances and lowered transportation costs.
• Reduced Demand for Virgin Aggregates: Substituting crushed natural stone with processed steel slag lowered raw material procurement expenses.

This model demonstrates how locally sourced industrial byproducts make rural infrastructure both affordable and environmentally sustainable.

Nationwide Progress in Green Rural Roads

The Ministry of Rural Development and NRIDA continue to scale up eco-friendly construction methods nationwide under PMGSY.

• Sanctioned Green Roads: Authorities have sanctioned 1,81,923 kilometers of rural roads using sustainable technologies.
• Completed Green Roads: Crews have already completed 1,39,901 kilometers of these eco-friendly roadworks across India.

NRIDA actively encourages state road agencies to utilize marginal materials, local soils, and industrial waste whenever technical conditions permit.

Advancing Sustainable Rural Connectivity

Operating as the technical arm of the Ministry of Rural Development, NRIDA drives quality control and engineering innovation across India’s rural road network. Winning the U.P. Medal 2025 validates the central government's push to build climate-resilient, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible rural connectivity.

Award & Project Snapshot: NRIDA Steel Slag Initiative