Hardeep S. Puri, Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Petroleum and Natural Gas, delivered a compelling address at the Conference on Adoption of New and Emerging Building Materials and Technologies in Construction Industry.
In his speech, the Minister highlighted the urgent need to incorporate sustainability and climate resilience into urban planning processes, considering the entire lifecycle of the built environment. The event was a platform to discuss the integration of innovative construction technologies and materials, aligning with India’s comprehensive urbanization programs.
Puri emphasized that the Indian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, views urbanization as a multi-dimensional opportunity for growth. The Minister underscored the government’s commitment to planned urbanization, noting that India has one of the most comprehensive programs in place to realize this vision.
Central to the discussion was the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), the Ministry’s flagship housing scheme. This initiative addresses the critical issue of providing affordable housing for India’s urban poor while simultaneously promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly infrastructure.
Puri proudly announced that the PMAY-U program utilizes green construction technologies, with approximately 43.3 lakh houses currently under construction using sustainable materials like fly ash bricks/blocks and AAC blocks. These eco-friendly houses are projected to collectively reduce CO2 emissions by a staggering 9 million tonnes by the end of December 2024.
In a bid to revolutionize the housing construction sector, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has curated a selection of 54 cutting-edge construction technologies from around the world through the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC). Additionally, six “light house projects” are underway in Chennai, Rajkot, Indore, Lucknow, Ranchi, and Agartala. Puri elaborated on the benefits of these innovative technologies, including cost and time reduction, minimized cement usage, waste reduction, improved thermal comfort, and lowered lifecycle costs.
Kaushal Kishore, MoS at MoHUA, echoed the sentiment of providing quality housing to all segments of society using the latest and most innovative technologies. He emphasized that such an approach not only contributes to improved living standards but also aligns with India’s vision of self-reliance.
Manoj Joshi, Secretary of MoHUA, stressed the importance of mainstreaming modern and green construction technologies to meet the escalating demand for housing. These technologies, he pointed out, facilitate efficient and superior-quality housing construction, adaptable to the diverse geo-climatic and hazard conditions across the nation.
The conference, organized collaboratively by CREDAI, CPWD, and NBCC, gathered luminaries from the construction and real estate sectors. Their shared commitment to sustainable and innovative practices underlines the nation’s dedication to creating resilient and environmentally conscious urban spaces.
The event served as a platform for these thought leaders to engage in meaningful discussions and share their insights, fostering a collective effort toward sustainable urban development in India.
