Thermal plant ash to build Maharashtra expressways under Mahagenco-MSRDC pact

Ash from thermal power plants will now be used to build roads and expressways in Maharashtra. An agreement to this effect has been signed between the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

Under the agreement, about 6.17 crore metric tonnes of ash is planned to be used between January 2027 and December 2028 in proposed road projects in eastern Maharashtra.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Minister of State for Energy Meghna Sakore-Bordikar. Radhakrishnan B., Chairman and Managing Director, signed for Mahagenco, and Anil Kumar Gaikwad, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, signed for MSRDC. The initiative aims to make better use of the ash produced by power plants and to advance infrastructure development in the state.

Storing thermal power plant ash for long periods can create environmental and operational problems. Greater use of ash in road projects can allow old ash stockpiles to be used and reduce the risks of keeping ash stored for years. The agreement requires that environmental rules, technical standards and legal provisions be followed during the transport, handling and use of the ash.

One aim is to promote 100 per cent utilisation of ash, in line with the Union government's ash notification of December 31, 2021. Implementing the Maharashtra government's ash utilisation policy of September 19, 2025 is also part of the aim. The agreement will remain in force until March 31, 2032 or until the projects concerned are completed, whichever is earlier. Its term can be extended with the approval of the competent authorities of both bodies.

The sources of the ash have also been fixed. For projects in the Nagpur region, ash will be supplied from the Koradi or Khaperkheda thermal power plant, and for projects in the Chandrapur region, from the Chandrapur thermal power plant. Separate tripartite agreements among the power plant concerned, MSRDC and the authorised contractor or entity concerned will fix the quantity of ash, the time of lifting, transport arrangements and the terms of financial assistance. Claims eligible for financial assistance will be processed only after the quantity of ash and its use are verified.

The project-wise requirement is as follows. The Nagpur-Gondia Expressway is estimated to need 2.09 crore metric tonnes of ash. For the Bhandara-Gadchiroli Expressway, 1.14 crore metric tonnes is planned, and for the Nagpur-Chandrapur Expressway, 2.79 crore metric tonnes. The Navegaon More-Surjagarh mineral transport corridor is estimated to need 15 lakh metric tonnes. In all, 6.17 crore metric tonnes of ash is proposed to be used across the four projects.

However, actual ash consumption may vary with the technical needs of the projects, site conditions and the availability of ash. The environmental benefit will also depend on how the projects are carried out and on adherence to the prescribed technical standards.