Concrete is the cornerstone of modern construction as it offers both utility and creativity. In the evolving landscape of urbanisation and infrastructure, precast concrete is playing an increasingly important role. From awe-inspiring skyscrapers to intricate facades and artistic installations, the potential of concrete and precast concrete knows no bounds. In this feature, ICR explores how the future of construction is shaping up.
Precast concrete shapes are custom-made concrete components that are produced in a controlled factory environment and then transported to the construction site for installation. These specialised concrete shapes are designed to meet specific dimensions and project requirements, offering several advantages such as enhanced quality control, reduced construction time and improved durability. In the Indian cement and construction industry, precast concrete shapes play a vital role in expediting construction processes and ensuring quality outcomes. Various types of precast concrete shapes are widely employed to meet the diverse needs of construction projects in the country. These include precast concrete panels, which are used extensively for building facades and walls, offering both durability and aesthetic appeal. Precast beams and columns are commonly used in structural elements, providing robust support and speeding up construction timelines. Speaking about quality control, Rais Khan, CEO, Dynamic Precast, said, “We have a Quality Manual Plan in our system. Presently, a testing laboratory is active in our manufacturing premise. Regular tests for raw materials and concrete and quality checks are done here using tools, equipment and calibrated testing machines.” “Quality checks in our factory starts from system update, raw materials, measurements and weighing process, compaction and ultimately in finished goods,” he added. Additionally, precast modular units, such as interlocking blocks and paving stones, are utilised for landscaping, pavements and retaining walls, offering convenience in installation and durability. In the Indian context, precast concrete shapes are particularly valuable for addressing the growing demand for rapid and cost-effective construction solutions while maintaining high-quality standards. They also contribute to the versatility and sustainability of construction practices in a rapidly developing nation like India. Narayan Saboo, Chairman, Bigbloc Construction, said, “AAC blocks are eco-friendly and sustainable, these are green building materials, light weight, and less transport cost. This material warms the room during the winter and cools it during the summer, reducing air-conditioning system usage by at least 25 per cent.” “Non-toxic and pest repellent, they prevent soil erosion and consume less water. When red bricks are used, it results in an upper layer of soil erosion, which makes the land barren or infertile in the long run,” he added. Speaking about the challenges faced by precast manufacturers, Vijay Shah, Managing Partner, India Precast, “A major challenge in the precast industry is the requirement of high volumes, repeatedly. The initial investment for the same is high. It becomes more suitable for the B and C types of city transports and handling at sites.” He further elaborated, “One of the most significant challenges in precast detailing is the design and engineering complexities of creating precast components. Precast components must be designed and engineered to meet specific load and structural requirements, which can be complicated and time-consuming. Additionally, precast elements must be prepared to fit together seamlessly during installation, which requires precise measurements and accurate detailing.”
GLOBAL PRECAST PERSPECTIVE According to a research report by Market and Market, the global precast concrete market size is projected to grow from US$144.6 billion in 2022 to US$198.9 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 6.6 per cent from 2022 to 2027. The precast concrete market is expected to witness significant growth in the future as concrete is a natural building material which is 100 per cent recyclable and in combination with steel, it is a safe, sustainable and earthquake-resistant material with little wear and tear. Most of the precast concrete market worldwide in 2022 was being used for commercial buildings. According to Extrapolate’s global precast concrete market research report, that material was valued at US$42 billion in its use for housing construction, and at US$29 billion for industrial buildings. The market size in the Asia Pacific region stood at US$46.43 billion in 2020. It is anticipated to be the fastest growing region during the forecast period. Rising investments by countries such as China, India, and Japan to develop infrastructure will increase the demand for the product. Additionally, the growing residential sector in these countries will increase demand for precast concrete due to its cost efficiency, thereby adding impetus to the market.
MANUFACTURING OF PRECAST The manufacturing of precast concrete shapes involves several techniques and processes to ensure precise dimensions, structural integrity and durability. The specific techniques used can vary depending on the type of precast product being produced, but some common methods include:
Formwork: Formwork is used to create moulds into which concrete is poured and allowed to set. These moulds can be made of various materials, including steel, wood or reusable plastic. The choice of formwork depends on factors such as the complexity of the shape and the number of repetitions required. Reinforcement: Many precast concrete products, especially structural elements like beams, columns, and slabs, incorporate steel reinforcement (rebar) to enhance their strength and load-bearing capacity. Proper placement of rebar within the formwork is critical. Concrete mixing: Precise control over the concrete mix is essential to ensure consistency and strength. The concrete mix design may vary depending on the specific requirements of the precast product. Advanced techniques like self-consolidating concrete (SCC) are sometimes used to eliminate the need for vibration during casting. Casting and pouring: Once the formwork is prepared and reinforcement is in place, the concrete is poured into the molds. Special care is taken to eliminate air voids and ensure uniform distribution of concrete within the formwork. Curing: Proper curing is crucial to achieving the desired strength and durability of precast concrete. Various curing methods are employed, including steam curing, water curing, and the use of curing compounds. Curing time and temperature are carefully controlled. Demoulding: After the concrete has sufficiently cured, the precast shape is removed from the mould. This step requires care to avoid damaging the newly cast concrete product. Surface finishing: Depending on the product’s intended use and appearance, additional finishing techniques may be applied. These can include sandblasting, acid etching or the application of coatings or paints. Quality control and testing: Stringent quality control measures are implemented throughout the manufacturing process. This includes regular testing of the concrete mix, inspection of formwork and quality checks on the finished precast shapes to ensure they meet design specifications and structural standards. Transportation and installation: Precast shapes are transported to the construction site and installed according to project requirements. Care is taken to ensure safe handling and transportation to prevent damage. Joining and sealing: In cases where multiple precast elements need to be assembled on-site, techniques like welding, grouting, or adhesive bonding may be used to join them together securely. Proper seals are applied to prevent water infiltration and ensure structural integrity. Post-installation finishing: Some precast elements, especially architectural features, may undergo additional finishing or detailing after installation to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance. These techniques, when executed with precision and attention to detail, result in high-quality precast concrete shapes that offer numerous advantages in construction, including time savings, consistency, and structural reliability. Additionally, advancements in technology and automation have further improved the efficiency and quality of precast concrete manufacturing processes.
COMPOSITION AND QUALITY OF PRECAST SHAPES The composition of materials employed in the creation of precast shapes is a pivotal factor, tailored to meet specific construction needs and applications. Fundamental to this composition is Portland cement, serving as the binding agent that brings the components together. Aggregates, encompassing both fine materials like sand and coarser substances like crushed stone or gravel, provide bulk and strength to the concrete mixture. The precise selection of aggregates can influence the texture and overall properties of the precast product. Water, meanwhile, plays a crucial role in the hydration process of cement, facilitating the concrete’s setting. Its quality, cleanliness and chemical characteristics can significantly impact the final product’s durability and strength. Chemical admixtures, including plasticisers, accelerators, retarders, air-entraining agents and superplasticisers, introduce versatility to concrete properties, enhancing workability, curing speed, and resistance to external factors like freeze-thaw cycles. For structural integrity, precast elements like beams and columns often incorporate steel reinforcement, in the form of rebar or mesh, to bolster tensile strength. For aesthetic considerations, pigments or colorants can be integrated into the mix, allowing for the achievement of specific colours or decorative effects in architectural precast elements. Additionally, specialised applications may necessitate the incorporation of fibres or chemical adhesives and sealants to enhance strength, control cracking or bond joints effectively. Form release agents are used to prevent adherence to moulds during curing, ensuring easy removal of the precast shape, while for specialised environments, custom concrete mixes and additives are employed to tailor the product’s properties to withstand specific challenges, such as high temperatures, acid exposure, or aggressive chemicals. Precise mix designs are meticulously crafted by engineers and concrete specialists to align with project requirements, assuring the quality, strength and durability of the resulting precast shapes. Precast concrete has cement as the key raw material. The kind of cement used to make the concrete is what defines its properties and quality. Cement should comply with the requirements of IS 456;2000, for gaining satisfactory performance in a structure. The Ordinary Portland Cements (OPC) 43 grade (IS:8112) and 53 (IS:12269) are normally used in precast concrete construction for general purpose. Portland Pozzolana Cement (IS 1481) and Portland Slag Cement (IS 455) are preferred in making precast concrete for structures in polluted environments. High silica cement is advised to be avoided as it suffers reversion and loses a large portion of its strength in warm and humid conditions. Supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) like fly ash, ground granulated blast- furnace slag, metakaolin and silica fume enhance the results of ordinary portland cement (OPC) hydration reactions in concrete and are either incorporated into concrete mixes as a partial replacement for portland cement or blended into the cement during manufacturing. They should comply with the requirements of the appropriate parts of IS;3812 for fly ash, IS;12089 for GGBS and IS;15388 for silica fumes. The benefits of supplementary cementitious materials include reduced cost, improved workability, lower heat of hydration, improved durability and chemical resistance.
TYPES OF PRECAST In the Indian construction industry, a wide variety of precast concrete products are manufactured to meet the demands of diverse projects. These precast elements include panels, beams, and columns, which serve as essential structural components, providing both strength and speed in construction. Precast slabs are commonly used for flooring and roofing applications, offering efficient solutions for horizontal surfaces. Precast staircases and boundary walls are also widely produced, ensuring durability and quick installation. Furthermore, precast drainage elements, such as manholes and stormwater drains, help manage water and sewage systems effectively. Interlocking pavers, blocks, and decorative elements enhance landscaping and pavement options, while precast septic tanks cater to sewage treatment needs. Additionally, precast boundary markers, kerbstones, retaining walls and modular housing units address various infrastructure and housing requirements. These precast solutions not only save time but also contribute to sustainable construction practices in India’s rapidly developing urban and rural areas. Precast concrete shapes play a multifaceted role in the construction industry, serving a diverse array of purposes. These shapes are deployed in various applications, including building facades and cladding, where precast panels and architectural elements not only enhance aesthetics but also provide weather-resistant exteriors. Precast concrete beams, columns and slabs serve as robust structural components, expediting construction and delivering dependable support for commercial buildings, bridges, and parking structures. Moreover, precast slabs find their niche in flooring and roofing applications, offering superior load-bearing capabilities and thermal insulation. Aayush Patel, Director, Atul Projects India, explained, “The use of precast shapes for multi-story elevations provides precise and diverse solutions for a variety of design objectives. However, it comes with obstacles such as extensive design and technical needs, communication barriers among multiple teams, assuring quality control, managing complex scheduling and sequencing, and dealing with limited on-site space and transportation restrictions. Overcoming these issues is critical for fully utilising the benefits of recast detailing in multi-story projects.” Architectural details like precast concrete staircases, balustrades, and handrails ensure both safety and visual appeal in access points within buildings and public spaces. Boundary walls constructed from precast concrete provide security and privacy while seamlessly blending with the surroundings. In infrastructure projects, precast concrete comes to the fore with elements such as manholes, stormwater drains, and culverts, adeptly managing water and sewage systems. For landscaping and pavements, interlocking precast concrete pavers and blocks offer an easy-to-install, aesthetically pleasing solution for walkways, driveways, and outdoor spaces. Additionally, precast concrete septic tanks meet sanitation standards in residential and rural settings. Precast concrete’s versatility extends to decorative architectural features like pillars, statues, and ornamental facades, elevating the visual appeal of structures and public areas. In civil engineering, precast concrete retaining walls stabilise slopes, prevent erosion and create terraced landscapes efficiently. Moreover, precast modular housing units are emerging as a rapid, cost-effective response to housing shortages, manufactured with embedded infrastructure systems for swift on-site assembly. These versatile precast concrete components are also widely used in infrastructure projects, encompassing utility vaults, sound barriers, bridge components and highway barriers. The myriad applications of precast concrete shapes contribute significantly to construction efficiency, quality and architectural diversity, making them an asset in the construction industry.
PRECAST AND SUSTAINABILITY Precast concrete shapes are integral to promoting sustainability in the construction industry. These components contribute to resource efficiency by minimising material waste and often incorporating locally sourced or recycled content. Energy-efficient manufacturing processes and facilities reduce energy consumption during production, while the reduced need for on-site construction and transportation lowers greenhouse gas emissions. The durability of precast concrete structures translates to fewer replacements and repairs, reducing the environmental footprint over their lifecycle. Moreover, the precast industry supports local economies through job creation and fosters design flexibility, allowing for energy-efficient building designs. The low-maintenance nature of precast products, coupled with their recyclability, further underscores their sustainability. Precast concrete shapes align with green building certification systems, such as LEED, and enhance site management by creating cleaner and more organised construction sites. All these factors make precast concrete a sustainable choice that contributes to environmentally responsible and efficient construction practices.
CONCLUSION In the ever-evolving world of construction, precast concrete shapes have emerged as champions of sustainability and efficiency. These versatile components optimise resource usage, reduce energy consumption and boast remarkable durability, aligning seamlessly with the principles of green building and environmental responsibility. By fostering resource efficiency, precast shapes minimise waste generation and make efficient use of locally sourced or recycled materials. The energy-efficient manufacturing processes employed in precast facilities help lower energy consumption, while the reduced reliance on on-site construction cuts down greenhouse gas emissions. This longevity, combined with the low maintenance requirements and recyclability of precast products, emphasises their sustainability. As the construction industry continues to embrace environmentally conscious practices, the precast concrete sector is poised for growth, promising innovations that will further revolutionise sustainable building solutions. The future undoubtedly holds exciting prospects for an industry that is shaping the green, efficient and resilient construction landscape of tomorrow.
Two cement concrete pavement roads covering a total stretch of 2.2 km in Akhoya village were inaugurated on 27th June 2026 by MLA Nuklutoshi Longkumer, who attended as the special guest. The project comprises the one km L Pangersowa Road and the one point two km Longchara Junction to RC Chiten Jamir Memorial Government High School road. A formal programme followed the inauguration at the school auditorium.
A technical report was presented by Er Waloniba of the Urban Engineering Wing-III, Kohima, which stated the project was sanctioned in March 2026 under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment scheme for 2025-26 at a sanctioned cost of Rs 29.1 million (mn). The work order was issued to M/s Ensign Construction on thirtieth April 2026 with a stipulated completion period of 12 months. Work commenced on fourth May 2026 and was completed on sixth June 2026, with the contractor and team finishing the tasks in around two months. The project included a single-lane cement concrete pavement with side drains, two slab culverts and breast walls at required locations.
Longkumer acknowledged the Chief Minister, the advisor for urban development, contractors and other stakeholders for the allocation and support, and he commended the contractor for early completion. He noted that cooperation from landowners and the community had been important in resolving land related issues that can otherwise delay developmental works. He emphasised that planned developmental activities carried out with collective effort would enable more projects to be implemented successfully.
The headmaster of RC Chiten Jamir Memorial Government High School, I Chubasenba Longkumer, outlined the school background, noting it was established in 1962, was earlier known as Government High School Changtongya and was renamed in 2014. Local representatives said the improved approach roads would ease access for students, staff, patients and the general public and fulfil a long standing aspiration of residents. A dedicatory prayer was offered by the pastor and the programme concluded with a ribbon cutting attended by village council and town council representatives.
Indian Cement Review (ICR) and Fuller Technologies brought industry, policy and technology leaders together to discuss how cement innovation can drive green construction at scale, writes Rakesh Rao.
India is building at a pace few countries can match. Highways, airports, housing, logistics parks, industrial corridors and urban infrastructure are reshaping the country’s economic geography. But beneath this growth story lies a difficult question: can India continue to build at scale without locking itself into a high-carbon future?
That question formed the core of an online panel discussion titled “Driving Green Construction Through Cement Innovation”, organised by Indian Cement Review (ICR) in association with Fuller Technologies as the Presenting Partner on June 25, 2026. The webinar brought together experts from cement technology, R&D, global industry platforms, building performance policy and international development cooperation to examine how low-carbon cement and material innovation can accelerate India’s green construction transition.
The discussion came at a crucial time. India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and reducing the carbon intensity of its economy by 45 per cent by 2030. At the same time, the country’s construction sector is expanding rapidly, driven by urbanisation, infrastructure development, housing demand and industrial growth. Cement, as one of the most widely used construction materials, sits at the heart of this transition. It is indispensable to development, but also central to the challenge of reducing embodied carbon in buildings and infrastructure.
Moderated by Nitika Krishan, Senior Urban Infrastructure and Sustainable Policy Consultant, the panel featured:
Dr Hemantkumar Aiyer, VP and Head R&D, Nuvoco Vistas Corp Ltd;
Devika Wattal, Innovation Lead, Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA);
Dr Sunita Purushottam, MD, GBPN India (Global Buildings Performance Network); and
Vaibhav Rathi, Senior Technical Advisor, GIZ (the German Agency for International Cooperation)
Setting the tone for the discussion, Nitika Krishan underlined the scale of the challenge before the sector. “The question before us is no longer whether we build, but how we build sustainably,” she said. She pointed out that construction accounts for nearly 40 per cent of global energy-related carbon emissions when both operational and embodied carbon are considered. Cement production, she added, remains one of the hardest industrial processes to decarbonise.
For India, this is not merely an environmental issue. It is a development issue, a competitiveness issue and increasingly, a market issue. As one of the world’s largest cement producers and among the fastest-growing construction markets, India’s material choices will influence the carbon trajectory of its built environment for decades. As Krishan observed, sustainability solutions in economies such as India must not remain limited to laboratory success. They must be scalable, commercially viable and practical at national level.
The innovation gap: From technology to market
Experts believe that there is a need to bridge the innovation gaps for making decarbonisation in cement and concrete scalable. Devika Wattal of GCCA, explained, “The starting point must be the core cement manufacturing process itself. The first and foremost is the heart of our process, the heart of cement manufacturing. How do we reduce clinker? That is always a topic where industry is working very intrinsically.”
Clinker reduction remains one of the most important pathways for lowering emissions in cement. Since clinker production is energy-intensive and chemically emits carbon dioxide, reducing the clinker factor through supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), blended cements and new chemistries can have a significant impact. Wattal also noted that carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) will have a role, though it may not be the first lever for all markets.
However, she stressed that innovation cannot stop at technology development. A solution that works in the lab must also be adaptable to industry, scalable in production and acceptable in construction practice. “It is important for that innovation to be adaptable, to be scalable, and so that it can be executed in real time,” she said.
Wattal also called for stronger enabling systems around innovation. These include performance-based standards, product-level embodied carbon databases and clearer frameworks for evaluating green materials. Without these, low-carbon cement products may struggle to compete with conventional materials in procurement and design.
R&D must balance carbon, cost and performance
Bringing in the R&D perspective into the discussion, Dr Hemantkumar Aiyer of Nuvoco Vistas emphasised that low-carbon cement development cannot be treated as a single-variable exercise. Cement must perform in real construction conditions. It must deliver strength, durability, consistency and cost competitiveness, while also reducing carbon.
“The root of understanding and balancing all these aspects lies in materials, and knowing the materials,” he said.
According to Dr Aiyer, R&D teams must understand the variability of raw materials such as fly ash, slag and clinker. Different sources produce different material behaviours. This makes mix optimisation, material characterisation and processing-property relationships critical. When performance is affected, cement manufacturers must understand how strength enhancers, admixtures and other performance chemicals interact with the material system.
He also linked material science with process efficiency. Clinkerisation takes place at extremely high temperatures, around 1,400 to 1,450 degrees Celsius. Any improvement in raw mix design, process control or energy optimisation can, therefore, help reduce emissions and cost. Dr Aiyer pointed to artificial intelligence-based optimisation, Cement 4.0 tools and advanced software as important enablers for real-time process and material control.
“The more you understand the materials, the more you can control it,” he said.
LC3: The promise is proven, the sequencing is not
Limestone calcined clay cement, commonly referred to as LC3, has attracted global attention because it can reduce clinker content significantly by using calcined clay and limestone while maintaining performance in many applications. Kiranmai Sanagavarapu of Fuller Technologies said the technology itself has already moved beyond proof of concept. Fuller Technologies has worked with calcined clay technology for nearly two decades and has seen plants running in France and Ghana. These plants, she said, are meeting local and national specifications, while the economics are beginning to make sense.
“The calciner is performing, the economics is stacking up, it is making business sense to produce,” she said.
But if the technology is viable, why has adoption not scaled faster? For Sanagavarapu, the answer lies in project sequencing. Too often, clay characterisation happens after equipment is specified. This, she warned, is a backward approach because calciner design depends on clay mineralogy, kaolinite content, iron levels, reactivity, moisture and other variables.
“If you don’t know what your deposit looks like before you commit for the equipment, you are, in a way, going blind into designing,” she said.
She also identified permitting and plant integration as major bottlenecks. Environmental clearances, mining permissions and local regulatory approvals must begin early. Similarly, calcined clay must be integrated into existing grinding, blending and logistics systems from the design stage, not treated as an afterthought during commissioning.
India already has IS 18189:2023 standard for LC3, but Sanagavarapu pointed out that the standard is not yet visible enough in procurement documents. “The gap between what is technically being permitted and what the procurement is asking is the single biggest bottleneck,” she said.
In her view, successful scale-up depends on getting the sequence right: clay characterisation first, permitting in parallel, standards aligned with construction, and integration built into plant design.
India’s LC3 journey: Progress, but demand remains thin
Providing details of India’s LC3 commercialisation experience, Vaibhav Rathi of GIZ noted that JK Cement carried out the first commercial production of LC3 at its Rajasthan plant, followed by JK Lakshmi Cement three months later. These initiatives were supported by the International Climate Initiative of the Government of Germany, with IIT Delhi contributing deep institutional knowledge on LC3 research and BIS certification.
Rathi said India’s early experience has produced clear lessons. One of the biggest was the need to build capacity among regulators. While BIS certification existed, State Pollution Control Boards were unfamiliar with the technology and unsure about the approval pathway.
“The capacity building is not just needed amongst the producer and the users of the cement, but also the regulators who are working with this technology for the first time,” he said.
He also highlighted the need for better information on China clay deposits. Since China clay is currently classified as a minor mineral, centralised data on availability, quality and location is limited. If cement manufacturers are to adopt LC3 at scale, stronger mineral intelligence will be important.
The third issue is demand. LC3 has already been used in projects such as Palava City in Mumbai and Noida International Airport, but these remain limited examples. “It is in a chicken and egg situation,” Rathi said. “Cement companies are saying we need more demand, and users are saying there is not enough cement available.”
Public procurement, he suggested, could help break this cycle. If agencies such as CPWD and other public bodies begin testing, accepting and specifying LC3, it could create the market confidence needed for cement companies to invest in production and storage.
Building codes must catch up with innovation
Dr Sunita Purushottam of GBPN India argued that material choices will determine built environment emissions over the long term, but India’s current policy signals remain fragmented. Although LC3 has received BIS recognition, she pointed out that building codes, municipal bylaws, schedules of rates and sustainability codes do not yet provide uniform guidance on low-carbon cement.
“The current cement regulations are largely prescriptive and favouring traditional materials,” she said. This limits the ability of alternative materials to compete on performance, durability and emissions.
Dr Purushottam also raised the issue of taxation. Cement, including LC3, currently falls under the same GST bracket as conventional cement. A differentiated tax structure, she argued, could help accelerate market adoption. “In order for the market to demand LC3, that differentiation in the GST could go a long way,” she said.
She noted that green building certifications such as IGBC and GRIHA are already creating demand for low-carbon materials by assigning points for embodied carbon and sustainable material use. However, she said large-scale adoption will require regulatory mandates, particularly through building codes and state-level notifications.
She also cautioned that low-carbon cement alone does not solve the entire building performance problem. A material may reduce embodied carbon, but the operational carbon of a building depends on thermal performance, design, insulation and energy use. “The energy part has two elements,” she said. “One is the embodied carbon of the material itself, and the other is the operational carbon.”
Collaboration is the bridge between invention and impact
Wattal said GCCA sees innovation as a strategic priority and works through platforms that connect industry with academia and start-ups. “There is no way we will decarbonise our sector without innovation,” she said.
However, she stressed that research must be connected to actual industry challenges. Innovations developed in isolation may fail when they encounter real-world barriers such as raw material variability, plant integration, cost, standards and finance. Start-ups, too, need industry mentorship and scale-up pathways.
Wattal also flagged the importance of finance. Even strong technologies may struggle to attract investment if there is no common understanding of bankability. “We have always put projects into, is this a bankable project? But the definition of a bankable project has never been defined,” she said.
For India, she saw strong potential in its academic and start-up ecosystem, but said the challenge lies in alignment and prioritisation. The country has the research base, industrial capacity and market size. What it now needs is a coordinated route from innovation to deployment.
There is a practical concern for cement manufacturers: how can existing plants be adapted for lower emissions without compromising reliability or commercial viability?
Kiranmai Sanagavarapu addressed, “The reliability risk in calcined clay retrofit is definitely real, but it is almost always self-inflicted. The risk arises when a new process is added to an existing circuit without properly redesigning grinding and blending configurations.”
Existing cement plants, she explained, can take two broad routes. The first is external sourcing of calcined clay combined with mill optimisation. This requires lower capital investment and can potentially move in 12 to 18 months if other conditions are in place. It may reduce emissions by around 20 to 30 per cent. The second route is integrated calcination on site, which requires higher capital expenditure and longer lead times, but provides greater control over quality, supply and emissions reduction potential.
For Sanagavarapu, the principle is simple: low-carbon retrofits must be designed with intent. “Design it with an intent properly from the start. Start in the market conditions where the economics are already working,” she said.
Circularity: The overlooked advantage
According to Vaibhav Rathi, fly ash and slag are already well established in cement and construction (C&D), but construction and demolition waste remains underutilised. “C&D waste is a growing business opportunity which not many have taken up,” he said. India’s continuous construction and demolition activity creates huge volumes of waste, much of which contributes to air pollution, land degradation and material inefficiency. With the right processing and standards, this waste can be converted into useful construction products.
Rathi also pointed out that LC3 has a circular economy dimension that is often overlooked. It can use low-grade kaolin-rich clay left behind after high-grade clay is extracted for other applications. “LC3 is not only a low-carbon solution, but also a circular economy solution,” he said.
At the same time, he cautioned that LC3 in India is not yet cheap because it has not reached scale. Site-specific techno-commercial feasibility studies, supported jointly by development agencies and industry, could help companies assess whether LC3 production makes technical and financial sense at a given location.
Dr Purushottam added that India must address both low-carbon cement and construction waste together. “Both low-carbon cement and C&D waste go hand in hand. India does not have an option but to work on both,” she said.
Dr Aiyer called for policy shifts from both government and industry, including preferential purchasing of sustainable materials, minimum supplementary cementitious material requirements in public and public-private projects, and faster regulatory implementation. “If we can fast-track the regulatory standards and their implementation on the ground, that is the way to go,” he said.
From green ambition to green construction
Cement innovation is no longer only about chemistry. It is about systems. Low-carbon cement will scale only when technology, standards, procurement, finance, regulation, education and construction practice move together.
LC3 and other low-carbon technologies have shown promise. India has early commercial examples, strong research capability and growing market interest. But mainstream adoption will depend on whether demand can be created, regulators can be capacitated, standards can be embedded in procurement, and manufacturers can see a clear business case.
For a country building at India’s scale, the opportunity is enormous. Cement will continue to be central to infrastructure and urban development. The challenge now is to ensure that the cement used in India’s growth story carries a lower carbon burden.
Rakesh Rao
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JK Cement gained after being declared preferred bidder for the Gilund Limestone Block in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, a lease area of 370.96 hectares. The firm saw its shares trade at Rs. 5550.05, up by 28.45 points or 0.52 per cent from the previous close of Rs. 5521.60 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs. 5569.15 and touched a high of Rs. 5625.00 and a low of Rs. 5531.00.
The stock recorded turnover of 1742 shares on the counter and the BSE group A stock with face value Rs. 10 has a 52 week high of Rs. 7565.00 on 20-Aug-2025 and a 52 week low of Rs. 4670.05 on 12-Jun-2026. Last one week high and low stood at Rs. 5625.00 and Rs. 5329.00 respectively. The promoters holding in the company stood at 45.66 per cent, while institutions and non-institutions held 40.61 per cent and 13.73 per cent respectively.
The e-auction conducted by the Government of Rajasthan resulted in the company being declared preferred bidder for the mining lease, and the allocation will enable the company to plan phased development of the deposit, subject to regulatory approvals. The Gilund block spans 370.96 hectares and its allocation is intended to support raw material security for the company’s cement operations in the region. The designation follows the government auction process and will allow the company to plan development and integration of the deposit into its supply chain.
The current market capitalisation stands at Rs. 430.38 billion (bn), reflecting market response to the mining news and prevailing valuation levels for the sector. Investors and analysts will watch for formal allotment and related disclosures that can clarify timelines, capital expenditure and expected production profiles. The report is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice, and market participants are advised to consult advisers before making decisions.
