Lok Sabha Question No. 1840 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Promotion of Pre-Fabricated Housing
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1840

TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 05, 2024

## PROMOTION OF PRE-FABRICATED HOUSING

## NO. 1840.   SHRI SUKANTA KUMAR PANIGRAHI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  initiatives  to  promote  prefabricated house construction technology as an affordable and sustainable  solution  for  addressing  housing  shortage  in  urban  areas across the country particularly in the State of Odisha including Kandhamal Parliamentary constituency and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether pre-fabricated housing technology has been incorporated in the PMAY (Urban) scheme and if so, the details thereof along with the road map for the next five years;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  ensuring  the  adoption  of  eco-friendly  and energy-efficient materials and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the measures taken/being taken to enhance the capacity of construction for pre-fabricated housing;
- (e) the estimated reduction in construction time and costs achieved through pre-fabricated housing projects in the country; and
- (f) the manner in which the Government address the challenges related to land acquisition and zoning regulations for pre-fabricated housing projects with a focus on densely populated tribal pockets?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (d): Yes. Under PMAY-U, a Technology Sub-Mission (TSM) has been set up  for  promotion  and  adoption  of  innovative,  sustainable,  eco-friendly, energy efficient and disaster-resilient technologies

and building materials including pre-fabricated technologies by various stakeholders of  construction  sector  for  fast,  cost  effective  and  quality construction  of  houses  across  the  country  along  with  Kandhamal Parliamentary constituency of Odisha.

About 10 lakh houses have been constructed using innovative construction  technologies  including  pre-fabricated  technology  in  the country so far under PMAY-U. In this system, components such as walls, slabs, and beams are manufactured in a factory and then assembled at the construction site which significantly reduces construction time while enhancing quality control.

In  addition,  following  activities  have  been  undertaken  under  TSM  for promoting  modern,  innovative  and  green  technology  for  faster  and quality construction of houses:

- i. Identification, Evaluation and Certification of Emerging Technologies for adoption by Public/Private agencies.
- ii. 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  GHTCIndia,  54  innovative  proven  construction  technologies  shortlisted from across the globe.
- iii. Six  Light  House  Projects  (LHPs)  using  six  distinct  technologies shortlisted under GHTC-India are constructed at six places in the country.  These  projects  mark  a  significant  advancement  in  the Indian Government's endeavour to address urban housing shortages by adopting sustainable and disaster-resilient technologies.
- iv. 13 Demonstration Housing projects (DHPs) using new technologies are built in different part of the country to showcase innovative and eco-friendly technology and energy-efficient materials to States/Union Territories (UTs) and disseminating technical awareness among professionals.
- v. 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.
- vi. 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  innovative construction systems and materials.

- vii. MoHUA  in association with GIZ and Building Materials and Technology  Promotion  Council  (BMTPC)  has  hosted  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  RACHNA  training  programmes  across  the  country  have been  successfully  conducted  across  India,  covering  over  11,000 stakeholders.
- viii. 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  environmentfriendly  and  ensure  faster  delivery  of  quality  houses  by  BMTPC. Under PACS, so far, 77 innovative products and systems have been certified.
- ix. 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.
- x. Various  publications  on  innovative  construction  technologies  and other  areas  related  to  faster,  eco-friendly,  energy-efficient,  cost effective, environment friendly, disaster-resistant, sustainable construction system has been made.

Learning from the experiences of PMAY-U, MoHUA has launched PMAY-U 2.0 'Housing for All' Mission with effect from 01.09.2024 for implementation in urban areas across the country to construct, purchase and rent a house by eligible beneficiaries at affordable cost. The TSM set up under PMAY-U continue to guide and facilitate States/UTs and other stakeholders in adoption of modern, innovative and green technologies and  alternate  building  material  for  faster  and  quality  construction  of houses  under  PMAY-U  2.0.  It  is  further  expanded  into  Technology  & Innovation Sub-Mission (TISM) to support innovative construction practices  and  projects.  It  also  assists  States/UTs/Cities  in  deploying disaster  resistant  and  environment  friendly  technologies  for  climate smart buildings and resilient housing. TISM also facilitates preparation and  adoption  of  layout  designs  and  building  plans  suitable  for  various geo-climatic zones.

- (e) & (f): Based on the field experience, the reduction in time and cost using prefabricated  houses  depends  upon  type  of  technology,  location  and scale of the project etc.

With  regard  to  prefabricated  housing  projects,  there  is  no  special requirement  related  to  land  acquisition  and  zoning  regulations  in  the country including densely populated tribal pockets.

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