Ministry of HUPA commissions study on testing of new housing technologies

With the objective of promoting new housing technologies in the country, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation has commissioned a study on testing of new construction technologies for popularizing them. The Ministry has approved a proposal in this regard made by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and agreed to support the study with financial assistance of Rs.31.34 lakhs. The Ministry’s initiative comes in the context of implementation of Housing for All Mission launched in June this year under which 2 crore new houses are to be built in urban areas for Economically Weaker Sections and Low Income Groups. 

Currently, there are no Indian Standards and Code of Practice available in the country for most of the new technologies developed indigenously and sources from other countries. The Ministry felt the need for putting in placing such a Testing Protocol so that such technologies after due testing could be promoted among the public for use. 

IIT, Kanpur will come out with a Protocol for testing of such new technologies at component level and construction system as a whole (complete housing unit) to enhance their acceptance to users. State-of-the art testing methods will be recommended to evaluate the intended performance of the structural and non-structural components of new technologies. 

This study is supported under Technology Sub-Mission of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana(PMAY) which facilitates adoption of modern, innovative and green technologies and building materials for faster and quality construction of houses.