India's consumer affairs ministry is planning to mandate a three-month shelf life for specialized cement used in critical infrastructure projects, according to reports from Mint. The new regulations will require shorter testing timelines and more detailed batch information for this specialized construction material. Specialized cement varies in composition and performance requirements from normal cement, being used in applications requiring enhanced performance or durability such as dams and bridges. With inadequate storage facilities at construction sites, the three-month best-before tag will help ensure cement is not used beyond recommended periods when moisture can reduce compressive strength.
The proposed revision introduces a maximum total chloride content of 0.1% by mass for low-heat Portland cement used in plain and reinforced concrete, according to Mint reports. This means that for every 100 kg of cement, the chloride content should not exceed 100 grams. The lower chloride content will help reduce steel reinforcement corrosion and improve concrete structure durability. The proposed norms require samples to be tested at the earliest possible opportunity, with testing completed within three months of receipt of samples. For low-heat cement, samples should be drawn within three weeks of delivery and testing should commence within one week of sampling, with samples packed and stored in airtight containers until testing if testing cannot begin within that period.
The ministry will move ahead with the proposal after consultations with all stakeholders including cement manufacturers and infrastructure developers, as reported by Mint. Aparna Reddy, executive director of Aparna Enterprises Ltd, noted that such a system can strengthen quality awareness and build greater confidence among end-users. The revisions could require changes to packaging and marking processes, with manufacturers needing stricter adherence to testing timelines. The proposed norms require samples to be tested at the earliest possible opportunity, with testing completed within three months of receipt of samples. For manufacturers, the revisions could require changes to packaging and marking processes and stricter adherence to testing timelines.
The government and agencies are stepping up spending on highways, bridges, dams and other large infrastructure projects, where construction material quality directly impacts asset durability and lifespan, according to Mint reports. Government scrutiny of construction quality has increased after bridge collapses and highway project deficiencies. 1,681 dams, representing about 26% of India's 6,628 specified dams, are more than 50 years old, including 291 that are more than a century old, as per a May government statement. The focus on durability comes as the government seeks to strengthen infrastructure foundations for high-value projects involving dams, bridges, tunnels and coastal highways.
India's cement production increased 8.6% to 491.4 million metric tonnes in FY26, according to an Icra report, with average cement prices rising 2% to ₹345 per bag. Icra expects cement volumes to grow by 7-8% in FY27. The proposed norms come as the government seeks to strengthen infrastructure foundations with a series of high-value projects underway. As reported by Mint, the Bureau of Indian Standards lists dams, water-retaining structures, bridge abutments, retaining walls, piers and slabs as applications for low-heat Portland cement, while specifying specialized cement for mass concrete structures where heat generation needs to be controlled.
