Vinod Behl
MoHUA is promoting 6 LHPs as live laboratories for transfer of technology to the field, with an aim to encourage large-scale participation of people to create technical awareness for on-site learning. These will demonstrate and deliver ready-eco-live houses with speed (12-month construction time), economy, and better quality of construction in a sustainable manner. They will be fully supported by onsite infrastructure, including internal roads, pathways, common green areas, water supply, sewerage, drainage, rainwater harvesting, and solar lighting. These modern eco-friendly houses are designed as per the National Building Code 2016 and in conjunction with centrally sponsored schemes like Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, Swachh Bharat Urban, National Urban Livelihood Mission, and Ujjawala.
Technologies used
The technologies used in these six LHPs include Precast Concrete Construction System, Light Gauge Steel Frame (LGSF) system with pre-engineered steel structural system, Monolithic Concrete Construction, using Tunnel Formwork, Stay-in-Place PVC Formwork with pre-engineered steel structural system, Prefabricated Sandwich Panel System with Pre-Engineered Steel Structural System. Out of these six projects, three projects viz. LHP Chennai, LHP Indore, and LHP Rajkot have been completed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already inaugurated the Chennai and Rajkot projects.BG Shirke builds Chennai LHP
The Chennai LHP with 1152 houses spread over 12 towers (G+5 floors) and a built-up area of 43439.76 sqm, was built by BG Shirke Construction Technology at a cost of Rs 116.27 crore. With the social infrastructure of anganwadi, shops, milk booth, library, and ration shop this 4-star Griha-rated green project offers better quality, durability and thermal efficiency with the use of industrial waste (GGBS) for saving embodied energy, of solar lighting, rainwater harvesting and STP.The project has used Precast Concrete Construction technology of Finland and USA. The construction process involved manufacturing of precast building components of columns, beams, slabs, stairs, etc. in the casting yard, transportation and erection of precast beams and slabs at site, placement of precast slabs and assembly through in-situ concreting (wet jointing) with beam and columns, and construction of infill walls using Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) block masonry, along with services (electricity, plumbing) followed by plastering.
Malani builds Rajkot LHP
The Rajkot LHP having 1144 units spread over 11 towers (S+13 floors) and a built-up area of 62,369 sqm, was built by Malani Construction Company at a cost of Rs 118.90 crore. The project has an Anganwadi, Community Centre, Health Centre, and retail shops. This 4-star Griha-rated green building offers a spacious and well-ventilated two-room set. The project saw fast-rack and better-quality construction, durability, and thermal performance. It has 36KW solar lighting, wastewater recycling capacity of about 2.30 lakh litre per day, and has used GGBS in concrete with 25% saving of embodied energy.The project has used Monolithic Concrete Construction technology of France with tunnel formwork. The construction process involved customised tunnel formwork (mould) of steel manufactured in the factory, placement of tunnel formwork in already erected reinforcement cage for walls at site, placement of slab reinforcement and concreting of walls and slabs together in one go, along with services like electricity and plumbing, and construction of infill walls using AAC blocks followed by plastering.
KPR Projectcon build Indore LHP
The Indore LHP having 1024 units spread over 8 towers (S+8 floors) with a built-up area of 45631.97 sqm, was a fast track construction by KPR Projectcon at a cost of Rs 128 crore. Having the social infrastructure of a community centre, the project has special features that include resource-efficient, drastic reduction of water consumption, solar lighting, rainwater harvesting, and STP.The project used Prefabricated Sandwich Panel S with pre-engineered steel structural system. The construction process involved erection of customized factory manufactured steel columns and beams erected at site, desk slab installation in already erected steel structure, concreting of deck slabs with reinforcement, along with services and installation of factory made prefabricated sandwich panels as infilled walls.
Jam builds Lucknow LHP
The Lucknow LHP, having 1040 units spread over 4 towers (S+13 floors) and a built-up area of 47826.6 sqm is being built by Jam Sustainable Housing at a cost of 13090 crore. Having the social infrastructure of a community and commercial centre, the special features of the project include easy to erect wall panels requiring no plaster, dust-free environment, solar lighting, rainwater harvesting, and STP.The project, which is in the finishing stage, is using Canadian technology of Stay in PVC Formwork with a pre-engineered steel structural system. The construction process involves erection of factory-manufactured, customized steel columns and beams at site, deck slab installation in already erected steel structure, and concreting, installation of factory made, pre-finished PVC wall forms as infilled walls, and filling of infill walls with concrete.
SGC Magicrete builds Ranchi LHP
The Ranchi LHP, comprising 1008 units spread over 7 towers (G+8 floors) with a built up area of 49442 sqm, is being built by SGC Magicrete at a cost of Rs 134 crore. Having the social infrastructure of a community centre, it includes a a skill development centre, an Anganwadi, school and health centre, and boasts of first-time use of this technology for any housing project in the company. About 90% work was done in a controlled factory environment. Features include solar lighting, rainwater harvesting, and STP.The project, which is in the finishing stage, is using Precast Concrete Construction System - 3D Volumetric. The construction process involves casting of structural modules and slabs in the casting yard, placement of modules at site using cranes, placement of precast floors on already erected structured modules, and repeating of steps 2 and 3 like Lego blocks to complete a tower.
Mitsumi builds Agartala LHP
The Agartala LHP comprising 1000 units spread over 7 towers (G+6 floors) with a built up area of 45273 sqm, is being built by Mitsumi Housing at a cost of Rs 162.50 crore. Having the social infrastructure of a community centre, it includes a healthcare centre and an Anganwadi. The project holds the distinction of using this technology for the first time in the Northeast region. Special features include a disaster- resilient structure, solar lighting, and rainwater harvesting.The project, which is in an advanced stage of construction, is using Kenya / New Zealand’s Light Gauge Steel Framed (LGSF) System with pre-engineered steel structural system. The construction process involves erection of factory-made, customized steel columns and beams at the site, erection of factory-made LGSF panels, fixing of precast concrete panels for walling, filling of lightweight concrete between the wall panels, deck slab installation in already erected steel structure, and concreting services.
Bringing small developers in small cities on board
At both the government and industry level, efforts are on for mainstreaming these cutting-edge technologies, which are currently limited to big construction companies and big cities. Leading construction companies like L&T have been using Tunnel form, Aluminium form, Precast, and 3D Concrete Printing technologies. Comments Amit Berde, GM, L&T, “We are not sticking to any one particular technology for achieving our goal to build faster and in a cost-effective manner.”Sanjay Shirke, Director, Shirke Group, which is using a cutting-edge construction technology, says that prior to choosing a technology, the challenge is to address any grey areas, and to undertake performance evaluation.
Ram Reddy, Secretary, Credai and CMD, Ark Group, Hyderabad, says that while the economy of scale helps to incorporate modern construction technologies, the real challenge is to see how small developers can be brought on board to use these technologies.
Arjun Amin, Director, Urbanaac Infra, says that in order to promote mainstreaming of construction technologies, the government should provide incentives like interest subsidy on investment, import duty exemption, and income tax exemption for 10 years.
According to Manoj Joshi, Secretary, MoHUA, conventional practices are being replaced gradually by new innovative technologies, and the ministry is making all efforts to bring the desired change. A Lighthouse project is a good tool for demonstration, adoption, and promotion of construction technologies. “We are preparing a proposal to use new innovative technologies in government buildings which will also encourage state governments to follow. In times to come, small cities should also be using new technologies to ensure better quality and timely construction, which will limit the damage done to the country’s natural resources,” he said.
