To address the plastic waste management issue, the Indian government has directed states and Union Territories to incorporate up to 8% plastic waste by weight into bitumen for road construction. This will include internal roads in residential and commercial areas.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that 4.12 tonnes of plastic waste were produced in 2020-21, with around 60% of this being recycled.

A 2019 document from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) states that using one tonne of plastic waste mixed with bitumen for every kilometre of road, with a width of 3.75 metres, can result in a savings of Rs 6.3 lakh.

The Indian Road Congress issued guidelines in 2013 for using plastic waste in road construction. Likewise the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) made it compulsory in 2015 to mix plastic waste with bitumen for roads within 50 kms of urban areas with populations of 500,000 or more.

Plastic-infused roads not only contribute to environmental sustainability but are also more durable and cost-effective. Since both plastic and bitumen are petroleum-based, they bond effectively, enhancing the road's load-bearing capacity and longevity while providing better resistance to damage from heavy rains.

As of July 2021, 703 kms of national highways have been built using waste plastic in flexible pavement layers, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.