To enhance safety and reduce construction costs, India is considering replacing steel crash barriers on highways with bamboo. This innovative technology, which has been patented in India and meets European Safety Standards, is expected to provide a significant boost to the green economy and decrease the cost of highway construction by up to 20%, according to an ET report.
According to a senior government official, the Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways aims to initiate trial projects across 25 states, covering a total of 86 kilometers of highways, within the next six to eight months. Following this phase, the ministry will evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of scaling up the use of bamboo crash barriers, which could be a significant advantage for bamboo growers. As production volumes increase, it is anticipated that the cost of constructing crash barriers could decrease by 10-20%.
