Lok Sabha Question No. 3264 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: Achievements made under Light House Projects
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3264

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 20, 2025

## ACHIEVEMENTS MADE UNDER LIGHT HOUSE PROJECTS

NO. 3264.    SHRI P C MOHAN:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  progress  achieved  under  the  Light  House  Projects  (LHPs)  initiative  at the  national  level  to  promote  innovative  and  sustainable  construction technologies  for  affordable  housing  along  with  the  number  of  projects completed so far;
- (b) whether Karnataka has been selected for any Light House Project under the said initiative and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the specific steps taken to adopt new  construction technologies in Bengaluru for urban housing needs; and
- (d) the  measures  adopted  to  scale  up  the  use  of  advanced  technologies introduced  under  LHPs  across  the  country  along  with  the  initiatives undertaken  to  build  capacity  and  awareness  among  urban  planners  and builders in Karnataka?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- (a) to  (d):  Under  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojana  -  Urban)  (PMAY-U),  a  Technology Sub-Mission (TSM) has been set up for promotion and adoption of innovative, sustainable,  eco-friendly  and  disaster-resilient  technologies  and  building materials  by  various  stakeholders  of  construction  sector  for  fast,  cost effective  and  quality  construction  of  houses  across  the  country  including hilly States/Union Territories (UTs).

Global Housing Technology Challenge - India (GHTC-India) was initiated to identify and mainstream globally best available proven construction technologies including prefabricated technology that are rapid, sustainable, green  and  disaster  resilient.  Under  GHTC-India,  54  innovative  proven construction technologies shortlisted from across the globe.

Out  of  the  identified  54  technologies  under  GHTC-India,  six  Light  House Projects (LHPs) of   more than 1,000 houses each with allied   infrastructure facilities  using  six  distinct  technologies  are      constructed      at      Indore (Madhya  Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Chennai  (Tamil Nadu),  Ranchi (Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). The sites of LHPs were selected through challenge process to showcase use of these technologies for further mainstreaming in the country. The construction of LHPs at Chennai, Rajkot, Indore, Lucknow and Ranchi has been completed and  inaugurated  by  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister.  The  LHP  at  Agartala  is  in advanced stage of construction. Karnataka has not been selected for any Light House Project under the said initiative.

The  LHPs  are  functional  as  Live  Laboratories  to  promote  widespread learning among urban planners, builders and other stakeholders on the use of innovative construction technologies/ systems on ground and mainstreaming in Indian context.

In  addition,  the  following  activities  have  been  undertaken  under  TSM  for promoting  modern,  innovative  and  green  technology  for  faster  and  quality construction  of  houses  to  build  capacity  and  awareness  among  urban planners, builders faculty/students of technical institutions, technical Professionals  of  private/public  sectors,  Central/State/Urban  Local  Body (ULB)  officials,  start-ups/innovators/entrepreneurs,  and  other  concerned stakeholders  across  the  country  including  Karnataka  meet  the  urban housing needs:

- i. Identification,  Evaluation  and  Certification  of  Emerging  Technologies  for adoption by Public/Private agencies.
- ii. 13 Demonstration Housing projects (DHPs) using new technologies are built in  different  parts  of  the  country  to  showcase  innovative  and  eco-friendly technology and energy-efficient materials to States/UTs and disseminating technical awareness among professionals.
- iii. An online course named NAVARITIH (New, Affordable, Validated, Research Innovation  Technologies  for  Indian  Housing)  has  been  started  to  enhance the capability of building professionals about the new and emerging building materials, technologies and processes for construction.
4. Indian Housing Technology Mela (IHTM) in 2021 was organized to showcase the domestic indigenous and innovative technologies, building materials and construction  processes  for  low  &  medium  rise  houses.  84  innovative technologies/products/materials  were  shortlisted  under  IHTM.  In  addition, under  the  Indian  Urban  Housing  Conclave  2022,  a  National  Exhibition  on Innovative construction practices was organized to showcase more than 85
- iv. innovative construction systems and materials.

- v. MoHUA  in  association  with  GIZ  and  Building  Materials  and  Technology Promotion  Council  (BMTPC)  conducted  series  of  trainings/workshops  on Innovative  Construction  Technologies  and  Thermal  Comfort  for  Affordable Housing  named  RACHNA  (Resilient,  Affordable  and  Comfortable  Housing through  National  Action).  More  than  150  training  programmes  across  the country  have  been  successfully  conducted  across  India,  covering  over 11,000 stakeholders.
- vi. Performance  Appraisal  Certification  Scheme  (PACS)  is  being  operated  for Identification, Evaluation and Certification of Emerging Technologies suiting to different geo-climatic conditions of the country, which are safe, sustainable  and  environment-friendly  and  ensure  faster  delivery  of  quality houses by BMTPC. Under PACS, so far, 77 innovative products and systems have been certified.
- vii. A series of offsite Workshops/Webinars, Webcasting, Mentoring on Technical know-how/Modules  were  organised  jointly  with  State  Governments  for capacity  building  and  handholding  support  on  innovative  construction technologies.
- viii. Various  publications  on  innovative  construction  technologies  and  other areas related to faster, eco-friendly, energy-efficient, cost effective, environment  friendly,  disaster-resistant,  sustainable  construction  systems have been made.

Further, based on the learning from the experiences of 9 years implementation of PMAY-U, MoHUA has revamped the scheme and launched PMAY-U  2.0  'Housing  for  All'  Mission  with  effect  from  01.09.2024  for implementation  in  urban  areas  across  the  country  including  State  of Karnataka for 1 crore additional eligible beneficiaries.

In  order  to  promote  innovative  construction  technology,  a  Technology  & Innovation  Sub-Mission  (TISM)  has  been  established  under  PMAY-U  2.0  to support innovative design and construction practices and build capacity & awareness among urban planners and builders. TISM promotes adoption of layout  designs  and  building  plans  suitable  for  various  geo-climatic  zones through coordination with various regulatory and administrative bodies for mainstreaming  and  up  scaling  the  deployment  of  modern  construction technologies and material in place  of  conventional  construction  materials practices.

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