🔸 Sub-headline:
Collaborative R&D with Odisha’s Roads & Buildings Department showcases sustainable plastering solutions using fly ash, red mud, and blast furnace slag.
📢 NEWS REPORT
At the 84th Annual Session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), a brick wall with advanced plastering prototypes drew attention for showcasing one of the most innovative construction materials R&D initiatives in India. The project is a result of collaboration between IIT Bhubaneswar and the Odisha Department of Roads and Buildings, focusing on the development and commercialisation of Artificial Sand made from industrial by-products.
The display featured three variants of plastering made with Artificial Sand:
Fly Ash-based Artificial Sand – produced solely from fly ash.
Fly Ash and Red Mud-based SCM Sand – incorporating red mud as a Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM).
GGBS-based Artificial Sand – using Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag as SCM.
These plastering techniques demonstrate durability, workability, and cost efficiency, while addressing the critical need to reduce extraction of natural sand, promoting environmentally sustainable construction practices.
Joint Team & Commercialisation Efforts
The joint IIT BBSR and MSME consortium team has been entrusted with the commercialisation of this R&D, including scaling up production, standardisation, field validation, and industrial deployment. DALMAP is the lead organisation responsible for:
Conducting field R&D trials to test real-world performance
Assessing cost economics and developing a business model
Implementing a Hub-and-Spoke Cluster Approach for efficient production and supply
The Project Corridor is based in Bhubaneswar, serving as a testing and demonstration site for large-scale adoption.
Scope of R&D & Future Plans
The scope of research on Artificial Sand extends beyond laboratory experimentation to:
Upscaling laboratory prototypes to industrial-level production for different mix designs, ensuring quality, consistency, and applicability in varied construction projects.
Conducting Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA) to evaluate long-term economic and environmental benefits compared to conventional natural sand.
Formulating strategies for mass adoption, integrating MSMEs in the supply chain, and creating a sustainable circular economy model for construction materials.
Experts highlight that the initiative is not just a technological breakthrough but also an economic and environmental milestone. By converting industrial by-products such as fly ash, red mud, and GGBS into viable construction material, the project promises significant reductions in carbon footprint, improved cost efficiency, and a boost for MSMEs in Odisha.
This innovative collaboration between academia, government, and industry demonstrates the potential of research-driven solutions to transform the construction sector, ensuring sustainability, economic viability, and large-scale societal impact.
