In an address at the ‘Adoption of New and Emerging Building Materials and Technologies in Construction Industry’ conference, organized by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI), Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri underscored the urgency of embracing cutting-edge technologies in the construction sector. The conference, a forum gathering more than 13,000 developer members, provided a platform to deliberate on strategies to expedite the transition from conventional methods to innovative approaches.

Minister Puri highlighted the projected urbanization trend, estimating that over 60 crore people are anticipated to inhabit urban areas by 2030, intensifying the demand for robust infrastructure. He asserted that the surging urban populace necessitates a synchronized push towards the adoption of emerging materials and construction technologies, urging the industry to collaboratively explore feasible avenues in this direction.

Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on shifting from outdated methodologies to advanced techniques, Minister Puri outlined the government's commitment to realizing this vision. The Housing Ministry has notably identified 54 innovative construction technologies from around the world under the ambit of the Global Housing Technology Challenge. Six pioneering light house projects in cities like Chennai, Rajkot, Indore, Lucknow, Ranchi, and Agartala are already leveraging these technologies to construct 6.368 houses. These initiatives, Minister Puri stated, lay a definitive roadmap for aligning the construction sector with the Prime Minister's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.

Underscoring the substantial benefits of these technologies, Puri noted a range of advantages experienced in the six lighthouse projects. These include a 50 percent reduction in construction time, 15-20 percent savings in cement usage, 20 percent less construction waste, a 10-20 percent decrease in construction costs, enhanced thermal comfort by 20-25 percent, a 4-Star green GRIHA rating, low lifecycle expenses, a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption, and a remarkable 35 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions.

With impressive achievements already registered, such as the Chennai project’s completion of 1,152 houses within a record 12 months, Minister Puri projected a promising future for India’s urbanization trajectory. By 2030, India is anticipated to harbour a staggering urban population of over 600 million, constituting more than 70 percent of the nation's GDP. This growth, Puri suggested, will simultaneously present substantial business prospects for the construction and real estate sectors while also posing environmental challenges.

Highlighting the critical role cities play in contributing to global carbon emissions, Puri referred to estimates by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), asserting that up to 75 percent of global CO2-equivalent emissions emanate from urban centres. Acknowledging this dual challenge of urbanization and sustainability, Puri encouraged a concerted effort to address these concerns.

In alignment with these aspirations, the Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary, Manoj Joshi, called for the extension of these technological advancements to smaller cities. Joshi also outlined plans for government bodies such as the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to integrate modern technologies into the construction of government structures.

The CREDAI Chairman, Manoi Gaur, and CREDAI President, Boman Irani, further echoed the industry's commitment to green building initiatives, underscoring the importance of sustainable practices in shaping the future of urban construction.

In conclusion, as India steers toward a future of unparalleled urbanization, the imperative to reimagine construction practices becomes increasingly clear. The CREDAI conference served as a catalyst for stakeholders to converge on the significance of integrating new and emerging technologies to build sustainable, efficient, and resilient urban habitats. Minister Puri's call for collaborative efforts resonates as a clarion call for a paradigm shift in the construction industry, heralding a transformative era of innovation and progress.