World's first bamboo crash barrier installed in India, see details

On Saturday, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the "world's first" installation of a 200-meter-long bamboo crash barrier on a highway connecting Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts of Maharashtra.

He described it as a " remarkable achievement" for the nation and its bamboo industry and noted that this crash barrier provides an ideal substitute for steel while also addressing environmental issues.

Gadkari tweeted, “An extraordinary accomplishment towards achieving AatmanirbharBharat has been made with the development of the world's first 200-meter-long Bamboo Crash Barrier, which has been installed on the Vani-Warora Highway, Vidarbha, Maharashtra.”

He further wrote, “The bamboo species used in the making of this barrier is Bambusa Balcoa, which has been treated with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE). This achievement is remarkable for the bamboo sector and India as a whole, as this crash barrier offers a perfect alternative to steel and addresses environmental concerns and their aftermath. Furthermore, it is a rural and agriculture-friendly industry in itself, making it an even more significant milestone.”

The statement released by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways states that this Bamboo Crash Barrier, which has been christened Bahu Balli, underwent rigorous testing at various government-run institutions such as the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Pithampur, Indore and was rated as Class 1 during the Fire Rating Test conducted at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee. 

Additionally, it has also been accredited by the Indian Road Congress. The recycling value of the bamboo barrier is 50-70 per cent, whereas that of steel barriers is 30-50 per cent.

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