Economy & Market

HOUSING FOR ALL

Published

8 years ago

December 30, 2017

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What’s in store for cement?
Analysts across spectrum estimate that if only 25 per cent of houses are substituted, then the total incremental cement requirement per annum will be around 10 MT.
Housing for All by 2022 (HFA-22) is the flagship project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Pranab Mukherjee, in his address to the joint session of Parliament on June 9, 2014, had announced that "by the time the nation completes 75 years of its independence, every family will have a pucca (permanent) house with water connection, toilet facility, 24×7 electricity supply and access". In order to achieve this objective, the central government launched a comprehensive scheme called Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) – HFA-22. The scheme received cabinet approval in June 2015, and since then has been taking shape for faster execution.
Based on the recent activities of the government, industry experts believe the scheme is finally picking up pace and there may be a big jump in execution than what it was witnessed in the past. In this story, ICR has analysed the construction target of the government, likelihood of actual construction versus target and what is in store for the cement sector if the scheme is implemented on time. The story also analyses which states stand to benefit from this scheme and in turn which cement companies will be the beneficiaries.Increase in demand
Analysts expect incremental cement demand at 3.76 per cent per annum from the ‘Housing for All’ scheme. Based on the calculations in respect of total investment and number of housing units to be constructed under the scheme, cement players expect incremental cement demand to the extent of around 10 MT to be generated, translating into a growth of 3.76 per cent per annum. However, given the fact that cement demand growth of only 4 per cent to 5 per cent coming in from normal housing and infrastructure segments, the total cement demand growth is unlikely to touch double digits despite assumption of full scale implementation of ‘Housing for All’ scheme. Therefore, while the contribution from ‘Housing for All’ scheme is significant, it will not help the cement industry to achieve higher capacity utilisation by FY20.
To this, Pushpraj Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, JSW Cement, says, "On the back of ‘Housing For All’ scheme, we expect cement growth of about 7 to 8 per cent in the times to come." He added: "So if you see the CAGR of the industry, it has not been positive. It has been almost stabilised at whatever level it was for the last five years in South. If you look at the Eastern and the Northern regions, there has been significant growth. Combined, we expect about 6 to 7 per cent growth in the overall cement market in India."Technology
Since affordable housing require fast pace work completion, in this situation, Manju Yagnik, Vice Chairperson, Nahar Group, suggests precast construction as a cost-effective method for affordable housing. "It’s a fast and sustainable building technology for large housing projects that doesn’t compromise on quality," Yagnik says. Precast is a standard building system based on ready-made, factory-manufactured elements and intelligent connections. It provides how to style and construct an ample range of appropriate homes to fulfill the requirements of city dwellers in an exceedingly affordable timeframe and at an affordable price. Such new technologies will help boost the supply faster for affordable housing at a reasonable price. Ashok Mohanani, Chairman and Managing Director, Ekta World, believes that Indian property developers are adopting international strategies like pre-fabricated construction, dry-wall techniques, and slip-form construction for quick development. However, he thinks there’s a need to cut back the value of procurement of recent technological instruments and alternative products and materials. "Value engineering and rationalisation of the overhead costs can facilitate the sector vastly in bringing down the value of affordable housing units," he suggests. 32 million housing units on the card
The government had earlier constituted a technical group to ascertain actual urban housing shortfall in India. In a report published in 2012, the group estimated urban housing shortage at 18.8 million units. For the rural segment, the government recently outlined a scheme wherein it will build 13.2 million houses with the help of state governments and some contribution from the beneficiaries. This adds up to total housing requirement of around 32 million dwelling units (DU) by 2022. Meanwhile, total investment of $246 billion to achieve HFA-22 objectives, which means much higher private sector participation is required.What’s in for the cement sector?
Nirmal Bang, an equity research company based in Mumbai, assumed of
32 million units with an average area of Rs 400 per sq ft at an average construction cost of Rs 250 per sq ft. Nirmal Bang has estimated how much incremental cement demand HFA-22 can generate. The method they have used is based on the total investment and cement intensity of the project. Real estate developers that they connected believe that each housing unit will cost on an average Rs 1,250 per sq ft. Out of this, total construction cost is Rs 700 per sq ft and cement cost is
Rs 100 per sq ft. This tallies with general cement requirement of 20 kg per sq ft for construction of individual housing units. The key challenge in estimating the incremental cement demand and to understand how much this HFA- 22 construction will substitute individual house building in the country. Even if industry estimates that if only 25 per cent of houses are substituted, then total incremental cement requirement per annum will be 10 MT. This is a sizable addition to cement demand at 3.76 per cent.
However, ICICI Securities estimates differ from Nirmal Bang. As per ICICI Securities, even if one estimates only 20 per cent of houses to be constructed under PMAY get completed by 2022, assuming average size of the house 270 sq ft and 18 kg of cement requirement per square feet, it will give total cement requirement of approximately 27 MT by FY22.Companies to benefit
Based on the earlier success of housing construction, analysts believe that PMAY – rural has more potential in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. Cement companies with higher exposure in the eastern and central regions (like UltraTech Cement, Shree Cement, Dalmia Cement and Birla Corporation) will benefit from the same. Under PMAY – urban scheme, states like Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra will stand to benefit. Companies with higher exposure to the southern region (like Dalmia Cement, Ramco Cements and India Cements) will benefit from the same.
It is expected that the share of infrastructure in overall cement demand would increase from the current 18-20 per cent to 22-24 per cent over the next five years, led by increased government spend. Over the last few years, weak macroeconomic environment along with several regulatory issues have impacted spending on infrastructure. However, increase in project announcement along with pick-up in execution suggests a sign of revival in the sector.
In addition, with general elections approaching in the next 18 months, it is expected that the project execution pace to improve further. Within infrastructure spends, industry expect roads and highways, railways, metros, airports, irrigation and urban infrastructure to drive higher growth. Analysts estimate a huge 160-190 MT potential cement demand from planned government infrastructure projects.
That said, India’s 17 states are expected to go for assembly election by FY20, which has likely consumed approximately 142 MT (around 50 per cent of cement demand) of cement in FY17. Five states in FY19 and nine states in FY20 are expected to go for state election.The disparity
Housing shortage in India is experienced by lower income group, which makes subsidy model redundant Housing schemes in the past have failed as the subsidy model doesn’t work, because the income level of homeless people is so low that they cannot afford to build a house even with the help of subsidy from the government. Based on studies conducted by the government, the housing need arises from the congestion in the house rather than homelessness.
Based on the government studies, around 80 per cent of total requirement comes from congestion in the house, which means the number of married couples in the house is more than the number of rooms available. This is a common phenomenon in urban areas, and because of the same, slum redevelopment projects take a huge time to take off as the density of population living in the area is high.
Moreover, the studies further highlight that 96 per cent of total requirement is from people coming under economic weaker section and lower income group categories. The definition of economic weaker section then was household with income below
Rs 5,000 per month and the same for lower income group was income between
Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per month. This clearly shows that interest subvention scheme is not likely to address the housing problem as the income bracket of population facing housing shortage will have affordability issues.Progress of PMAY
As of now, 35 MoAs have been signed with 30 states and 5 union territories;
4,317 cities (472 Class I cities) have been selected in 35 states and union territories for inclusion under the scheme. Till now, the government has considered 7,474 projects for construction of 37 lakh houses for the economic weaker section in 35 states and union territories involving central assistance of Rs 2 lakh crore.
Meanwhile, of the Rs 57,000 crore central assistance, Rs 13,149 crore as a part of the first installment has been released to the concerned states against approved projects. As per the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, at present only 3 lakh dwelling units have been constructed so far and another around 13 lakh housing units are under construction.
The industry has added cement capacities at 10.2 per cent CAGR over past decade; while demand clocked about 6.2 per cent CAGR. This has led to increase in surplus capacities from 34 MT (14 per cent of total capacity) in FY10 to 129 MT (31 per cent of capacity) in FY17. Utilisation levels also declined from peak of 98 per cent in FY07 to 69 per cent by FY17. Krupal Maniar, CFA, ICICI Securities, believes that up-cycle would be slow, gradual and elongated as we expect capacity addition at 3-4 per cent CAGR over next five to six years.
Increasing greenfield plant capex cost and rising entry barriers (like mine auction, regulatory clearances) are unlikely to push supply additions significantly. ICICI Securities expect cement demand to clock approximately 6 per cent CAGR (still lower than/in-line with GDP growth), resulting in gradual but steady improvement in utilisations over next five to six years. The Government focus on rural economy and higher infrastructure spends is likely to improve demand for the sector. Accordingly, Dharmesh Shah, Research Analyst, ICICI Securities, says "we expect utilisation to improve gradually by 500 bps to 74 per cent in FY20E."More M&A deals in the offing
The cement industry has seen some consolidation in recent years due to rising overcapacity, longer gestation periods (in securing various government/environment clearances, acquiring land), higher costs (elevated land costs) and issues relating to debt servicing. Some of the key deals have been UTCEM acquisition of JPA cement assets, Nirma’s acquisition of Lafarge cement business in India, and Birla Corp’s acquisition of Reliance Cement. The due diligence for ACC-ACEM merger is also on. Binani Cement and Murli Industries are under NCLT restructuring with Dalmia Bharat recently announcing the acquisition of Murli Industries.– RAHUL KAMAT

Economy & Market

RAHSTA Roundtable Sets Agenda for Smarter, Safer Highways

Published

11 hours ago

March 16, 2026

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Roundtable discussions focus on innovation for safer highways.

Held on 12 March 2026 at Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai, alongside the Infrastructure Today Airport Conclave, the RAHSTA Roundtable brought together stakeholders from across the highways and infrastructure ecosystem to shape the agenda for the 16th RAHSTA 2026, scheduled for 8–9 July 2026 at the Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai. The session focused on key industry themes including road construction, technology, safety and long-term sustainability.

Opening the discussion, Pratap Padode, Founder, FIRST Construction Council, said the roundtable marked the beginning of a broader consultative process leading up to the July event. The aim, he noted, is to bring together industry stakeholders to refine the agenda for discussions on the future of roads, bridges, tunnels and allied infrastructure.

Padode noted that while central road project awards have slowed in recent years, states are increasingly driving the next phase of infrastructure growth. Maharashtra, with its long-term road development plans and agencies such as MSRDC and MSIDC, is expected to play a significant role in this expansion.

RAHSTA Expo 2026 as a specialised platform dedicated to road infrastructure, covering highways, tunnels, bridges and flyovers along with construction technologies, safety systems and maintenance solutions. He also highlighted the growing importance of rural connectivity and said the organisers are engaging with government bodies to highlight rural road development initiatives.

Tanveer Padode, CIO, ASAPP Info Group, presented insights from IMPACCT, the group’s infrastructure intelligence platform. He pointed to a strong project pipeline despite slower highway awards earlier in the year, noting that states such as Maharashtra, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh are emerging as key drivers of new projects. The data also revealed that only a small group of contractors participates in large-value infrastructure bids.

Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary, former Director General, Border Roads Organisation and Chairman of the RAHSTA Expo Committee, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration across the ecosystem, including policymakers, contractors, technology providers and financiers. He also called for addressing systemic issues within the sector and encouraged greater participation of women in infrastructure leadership.

The discussion also explored the evolving economics of road development. Phani Prasad Mandalaparthy, Associate Director, CRISIL Intelligence, noted that the slowdown in project awards reflects a shift towards higher-value logistics corridors rather than simple road widening projects. However, private participation through BOT and TOT models remains limited.

From the contractors’ perspective, Sudhir Hoshing, Whole-Time Director, Ceigall, said companies are becoming more selective in bidding, favouring projects with clearer payment mechanisms and efficient processes. While NHAI continues to offer greater operational clarity, states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar were cited as relatively supportive environments for project execution.

Durability and sustainability also emerged as key themes. Himanshu Agarwal, COO – Road & Infrastructure, Zydex Group India, highlighted the need to prioritise lifecycle performance and resilient pavements, while participants discussed the potential of alternative materials such as plastic waste, steel slag and industrial by-products in road construction.

Dr LR Manjunatha, Vice President, JSW Cement, emphasised that India has abundant fly ash, slag and other industrial materials that can improve durability and sustainability if integrated into specifications and policy frameworks.

Technology and equipment challenges were also discussed. Dr Lakshmana Rao Mantri, Dy General Manager, Afcons Infrastructure, highlighted the shortage of tunnel boring machines (TBMs), which is delaying several underground infrastructure projects. Participants agreed that developing domestic TBM manufacturing capabilities will be critical for future infrastructure expansion.

The future of concrete pavements was another area of discussion. Dr V Ramachandra, President, Indian Concrete Institute, stressed that the debate should focus on lifecycle performance rather than material choice alone, noting that evolving design standards are improving the feasibility of concrete roads.

Prof Dharamveer Singh of IIT Bombay added that while India has made significant progress in infrastructure development, stronger capacity building and better execution practices are essential to ensure consistent road quality.

The discussion also touched upon technology adoption in the sector. Rushabh Mamania, Partner & CBO, Roadvision, highlighted the growing role of AI in road infrastructure, noting that AI-driven monitoring systems are already being deployed across large stretches of national highways.

Overall, the roundtable underscored that the future of highway infrastructure will depend not only on the pace of construction but also on durability, safety, technology integration and sustainable materials. The discussions offered valuable insights that will help shape the agenda for RAHSTA 2026 and guide future collaboration within the industry.

Economy & Market

CTS Roundtable Charts Tech-Led Roadmap for Construction

Published

11 hours ago

March 16, 2026

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CTS Roundtable Maps Technology Roadmap for Construction

Ahead of the Construction Technology Show (Con Tech Show) 2026, industry leaders, technology innovators and academia came together in Mumbai to deliberate on how digitalisation, automation and industrialised construction can reshape the sector. The discussion made one thing clear: construction can no longer afford to treat technology as optional.

Held on 12 March 2026 at Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai, alongside the Infrastructure Today Airport Conclave, the CTS Roundtable served as a precursor to the Construction Technology Show 2026, scheduled for 19–20 August 2026 at NESCO, Mumbai.

A platform to move from discussion to deployment

Opening the session, Pratap Padode, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, ASAPP Info Global Group, said construction technology has long remained close to his heart, especially given the sector’s traditionally slow pace of technology adoption. He noted that over the years, the Construction Technology Summit had steadily built interest, and the next step was now to expand it into a larger, more meaningful platform that could bring together technology providers, users, startups and innovators under one roof.

Padode said the vision for CTS is not limited to software alone. The platform aims to embrace all forms of technology that can improve construction efficiency, quality and execution—from digital tools and project management systems to lean construction, off-site fabrication and startup-led innovation. He also highlighted plans to deepen startup participation and create space for young companies to showcase emerging construction solutions.

Industry at a turning point

Moderating the roundtable, Naushad Panjwani, Chairman, Mandarus Partners, set the context by pointing out that the global construction industry, despite being a multi-trillion-dollar sector, continues to lag in productivity. He noted that while manufacturing has consistently improved efficiency, construction has remained slow to modernise.

Referring to both global and Indian trends, Panjwani underlined that the industry is now at a decisive moment. India, he said, is entering a major build cycle, and delivering the next phase of infrastructure and real estate growth through traditional methods alone is no longer viable. The goal of the roundtable, therefore, was not to debate technology in isolation, but to identify the most critical conversations that would bridge the gap between innovation and implementation.

His central message was clear: CTS 2026 must be shaped around themes that make CEOs, CIOs and CTOs feel they cannot afford to miss the event.

From BIM to AI, data to governance

A major theme that emerged through the discussion was the need for better data, better visibility and better decision-making. Dr Venkata Santosh Kumar of IIT Bombay echoed this, saying that the underlying data infrastructure itself needs attention. Construction projects, particularly remote ones, often face issues around connectivity, data collection and data use. Without this foundation, more advanced technologies cannot deliver their full value.

Chandra Vasireddy, CEO & Co-founder, Inncircles, expanded the discussion to governance, arguing that technology must help connect the many moving parts of a construction business. For him, the real value of digital transformation lies in creating better governance, clearer visibility and stronger business outcomes.

Tejas Vara of Inncircles stressed the importance of timely site data for leadership teams, especially in large and remote projects where decisions on materials, machinery and manpower often get delayed because information does not reach headquarters in time.

The role of AI also featured prominently. Rushabh Mamania, Partner and CBO, Roadvision said that while AI and machine learning are now common terms, vision intelligence and language intelligence have still not deeply penetrated the construction sector. He emphasised that startups in India are building relevant AI-led solutions and are already attracting international interest, showing that innovation need not be imported—it can be built locally and scaled globally.

Industrialised construction gains ground

The roundtable also placed strong emphasis on industrialised construction methods. Kalyan Vaidyanathan, CTO – Construction & R&D, Tvasta, called for greater focus on off-site fabrication and the broader industrialisation of construction. Bhargav Jog, General Manager, Dextra, highlighted precast technology and alternative sustainable materials as areas with immediate relevance.

Several participants agreed that modular, precast and pre-engineered approaches are no longer niche ideas. They are increasingly becoming practical responses to the sector’s challenges around labour shortage, timelines, quality control and predictability.

Anup Mathew, Sr VP & Business Head, Godrej, argued that the industry needs a fully integrated approach—from design and procurement to execution and asset management. Unless these are connected, technology adoption will remain fragmented and sub-optimal. He pointed to pre-engineered and modular systems as examples of how industrial thinking can compress timelines, improve quality and reduce dependence on difficult on-site conditions.

Adoption remains the biggest hurdle

While there was broad agreement on the promise of technology, the discussion repeatedly returned to one fundamental challenge: adoption.

Abhishek Kumar, COO, LivSYT, observed that the market is crowded with solutions, but many buyers still struggle to evaluate which technology suits which use case. According to him, the industry needs clearer frameworks to help users select, compare and adopt solutions, rather than expecting a single platform to solve every problem.

Dr Tenepalli JaiSai, Associate Professor, School of Construction(SoC), NICMAR University, noted that isolated technologies will not solve the productivity problem by themselves. What is required is an integrated Construction 4.0 approach, where digital, physical and cyber-physical systems work together rather than in silos.

That concern around silos was reinforced by Subodh Dixit, former Director, Shapoorji Pallonji, who said the issue is not just that technologies are disconnected, but that stakeholders are as well. Clients, consultants, contractors and partners often operate with different priorities. Unless these silos are broken, technology will struggle to percolate across the full project value chain.

Harleen Oberoi, Project Management, Tata Realty shared a practical perspective from the client side, saying that successful BIM implementation requires investment across the ecosystem, not just within one organisation. Trade partners, vendors and other stakeholders must also be trained and aligned if the technology is to deliver its intended results.

Beyond buzzwords

A notable takeaway from the session was that the industry is moving past the phase of treating technology as a buzzword. Participants repeatedly stressed that the real question is not whether technology should be used, but where it creates measurable value and how that value can be scaled.

The conversation also expanded beyond mainstream themes to include repairs and rehabilitation, construction and demolition waste, sustainability, circular economy, green sourcing, carbon measurement, design interoperability, generative design, robotics, and the role of horticulture and greener built environments.

Setting the agenda for CTS 2026

By the close of the session, the roundtable had surfaced a strong set of themes for the upcoming show: BIM and digital twins, AI and data platforms, industrialised construction, startup innovation, governance-led technology adoption, robotics, sustainable materials, and integrated project delivery.

More importantly, the session established CTS 2026 as more than an exhibition. It is shaping up to be a serious industry platform where users, technology providers, researchers and policymakers can collectively define the future of construction.

As Padode noted in his closing remarks, the conversation will continue through further consultations and possibly webinars in the run-up to the show. If the roundtable is any indication, CTS 2026 will aim not merely to showcase technology, but to push the industry towards meaningful adoption at scale.

Economy & Market

Smart Pumping for Rock Blasting

Published

2 weeks ago

March 2, 2026

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SEEPEX introduces BN pumps with Smart Joint Access (SJA) to improve efficiency, reliability, and inspection speed in demanding rock blasting operations.
Designed for abrasive and chemical media, the solution supports precise dosing, reduced downtime, and enhanced operational safety.

SEEPEX has introduced BN pumps with Smart Joint Access (SJA), engineered for the reliable and precise transfer of abrasive, corrosive, and chemical media in mining and construction. Designed for rock blasting, the pump features a large inspection opening for quick joint checks, a compact footprint for mobile or skid-mounted installations, and flexible drive and material options for consistent performance and uptime.

“Operators can inspect joints quickly and rely on precise pumping of shear-sensitive and abrasive emulsions,” said Magalie Levray, Global Business Development Manager Mining at SEEPEX. “This is particularly critical in rock blasting, where every borehole counts for productivity.” Industry Context

Rock blasting is essential for extracting hard rock and shaping safe excavation profiles in mining and construction. Accurate and consistent loading of explosive emulsions ensures controlled fragmentation, protects personnel, and maximizes productivity. Even minor deviations in pumping can cause delays or reduce product quality. BN pumps with SJA support routine maintenance and pre-operation checks by allowing fast verification of joint integrity, enabling more efficient operations.

Always Inspection Ready

Smart Joint Access is designed for inspection-friendly operations. The large inspection opening in the suction housing provides direct access to both joints, enabling rapid pre-operation checks while maintaining high operational reliability. Technicians can assess joint condition quickly, supporting continuous, reliable operation.

Key Features

Compact Footprint: Fits truck-mounted mobile units, skid-mounted systems, and factory installations.
Flexible Drive Options: Compact hydraulic drive or electric drive configurations.
Hydraulic Efficiency: Low-displacement design reduces oil requirements and supports low total cost of ownership.
Equal Wall Stator Design: Ensures high-pressure performance in a compact footprint.
Material Flexibility: Stainless steel or steel housings, chrome-plated rotors, and stators in NBR, EPDM, or FKM.

Operators benefit from shorter inspection cycles, reliable dosing, seamless integration, and fast delivery through framework agreements, helping to maintain uptime in critical rock blasting processes.

Applications – Optimized for Rock Blasting

BN pumps with SJA are designed for mining, tunneling, quarrying, civil works, dam construction, and other sectors requiring precise handling of abrasive or chemical media. They provide robust performance while enabling fast, reliable inspection and maintenance.With SJA, operators can quickly access both joints without disassembly, ensuring emulsions are transferred accurately and consistently. This reduces downtime, preserves product integrity, and supports uniform dosing across multiple bore holes.

With the Smart Joint Access inspection opening, operators can quickly access and assess the condition of both joints without disassembly, enabling immediate verification of pump readiness prior to blast hole loading. This allows operators to confirm that emulsions are transferred accurately and consistently, protecting personnel, minimizing product degradation, and maintaining uniform dosing across multiple bore holes.

The combination of equal wall stator design, compact integration, flexible drives, and progressive cavity pump technology ensures continuous, reliable operation even in space-limited, high-pressure environments.

From Inspection to Operation

A leading explosives provider implemented BN pumps with SJA in open pit and underground operations. By replacing legacy pumps, inspection cycles were significantly shortened, allowing crews to complete pre-operation checks and return mobile units to productive work faster. Direct joint access through SJA enabled immediate verification, consistent emulsion dosing, and reduced downtime caused by joint-related deviations.

“The inspection opening gives immediate confidence that each joint is secure before proceeding to bore holes,” said a site technician. “It allows us to act quickly, keeping blasting schedules on track.”

Framework agreements ensured rapid pump supply and minimal downtime, supporting multi-site operations across continents