Expert panel to lend technology solutions for housing projects

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has decided to constitute a committee of technical experts that would suggest within two months guidelines for construction of affordable and technically sound houses.

According to an official from the state Housing Department, the committee will be headed by the Principal Secretary of Housing and will include Secretary of Public Works Department, Vice President and CEO of MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority), Professor Ravi Sinha from Indian Institute of Technology (Mumbai), Dr Prashant Bhave, Chief of Civil Department at Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) and Chief Engineer of MHADA.

The official said that the committee will be required to make suggestions on the use of latest technology in the construction sector for large-scale housing projects.

"Using of latest technology will ensure that we can save time as well as costs in construction of buildings. The committee will be given two months to submit a report on the use of technology that matches the demography of the city, earthquake resistance of buildings, environment-friendly and cost effective measures that can be adopted," the official said.

He said that the report submitted by the committee will adopted by state-run agencies like MHADA and MMRDA ( Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) for their major housing projects.

"It has been twelve years since guidelines have been laid down for contractors to construct homes with the available technology. In this period, technology in the housing sector has evolved considerably. Hence, it would not be right to ignore the latest technology that is present today," the official said.

The official said that the Building Material and Technology Promotion Council has made eight recommendations on the use of technology in the housing sector.

"To construct affordable and good quality homes, we need to consider these recommendations as well," he said.