By Diksha Modi,News18
Copyright news18
Social media has lately been abuzz with an unusual claim, that Chinese roads owe their durability to eggs. Viral posts under the hashtag #EggRoadChina suggest that highways in China are being constructed using eggshell powder, a move that has left many wondering whether it is fact or fiction.
Videos circulating on Instagram and TikTok, some garnering millions of views, show eggs being thrown onto a construction site before layers of road material are laid over them. The clips claim that by grinding eggshells into a fine powder and mixing it with cement, Chinese engineers have been able to create stronger, more durable roads. In a country like India, where newly built roads often develop cracks and potholes within months, the idea has generated widespread curiosity.
Scientific evidence, however, indicates that the claim may not be entirely exaggerated. Research published by scientists at Beijing University has highlighted that eggshells, rich in calcium carbonate, can indeed enhance the strength of concrete and help prevent cracking. The technique, far from being a social media gimmick, is part of a broader environmental initiative to recycle waste material in construction.
Watch the viral video:
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China, one of the world’s largest egg consumers, produces billions of eggs annually, generating enormous quantities of shell waste. According to official reports, these shells are now being processed and reused in infrastructure projects. A notable example is a 50-kilometre stretch of the Shanghai-Pudong Expressway, which was reportedly built using the method and has remained intact for years. A government study claims that incorporating eggshell powder has extended the lifespan of roads from an average of 30 years to nearly 50. The project has even earned recognition from the Environment Ministry, which awarded it a “Green Construction” certification.
Experts in India believe the innovation has potential for local adoption. Dr Rajesh Kumar, professor at IIT Delhi, observed that innovations like egg powder could be adopted in India. “Our country is the world’s largest egg producer, generating 1 million tons of egg shell waste annually. Recycling it will strengthen roads and reduce pollution,” he said.
If successfully implemented, the idea could provide India with an answer to two long-standing challenges: poor road durability and mounting environmental waste.
