In what is being considered the world’s first, a 200-metres long bamboo crash barrier has been installed along Wani-Warora Highway in Vidarbha. The barrier has been christened ‘Bahu Balli’. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, announced this through a series of tweets on Saturday. He termed the 200-meters long bamboo crash barrier installed along Wani-Warora Highway connecting Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts in Vidarbha as the ‘world’s first’ such exercise. “An extraordinary accomplishment towards achieving #AatmanirbharBharat has been made with the development of the world’s first 200-meter-long Bamboo Crash Barrier,” Gadkari tweeted. The ‘Bahu Balli’ barrier 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. Bambusa Balcoa is the bamboo species used in the making of ‘Bahu Balli’ barrier. It has been treated with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE).