IIT-Madras Civil Engineers Promise 800 Sq.Ft, 2 BHK House For Only 10 Lakh

Engineers at the Indian Institute Of Technology, Madras were super busy for about a decade to bring your 2 BHK dreams to reality. The new construction method developed by IIT-M engineers will bring down the costs drastically down - so down that a 2 BHK, 800 Sq.ft house will cost you only Rs. 10 lakh. We can already see smile on your face; unless you're into construction business. The engineers at IIT-M's Civil Engineering department have demonstrated their technology by constructing a two-story building using GFRG (glass fibre reinforced gypsum) panels.

The demo house constructed entirely within the IIT Madras campus comprises of four flats, with two on each floor. The research team says that their way of constructing is not only budget-free but also is quite less time consuming over traditional methods. The two storey building too kess than a month's time to construct - amazing, isn't it?

iitm-building

The team's been working on the project since 2003. The research began by conducting extensive studies on the use of GFRG panels as structural components of the building, keeping in mind the earthquake resistent design. The panels have been developed by RBS Australia and were intended as RapidWall panels ideal for rapid erection of walls in buildings to carry gravity loads.

The panels are made of calcined gypsum plaster combined with glass fibers and special additives to produce the final GFRG panels. Each panel is about 12 meter long, 3m tall and about 124mm thick. The IIT Madras team extended the use of these panels to constructing the entire building - right from floors, roofs and staircases. The method also allowed for drastically reducing the overall consumption of reinforced cement concrete (RCC). The team's also developed a water-proofing material which prolongs the durability of the GFRG panels to be used as roofs and toilets.

The building constructed in the IIT-M campus has a total built-up area of about 1981 sq.ft, two flats with carpet area of 269 sq.ft each and others have carpet rea of 497 sq.ft each - intended for the lower income group. The team says that the plans can be replicated to build bigger houses and also used in mass housing projects anywhere in India. Another team at IIT Madras, which is working on decentralised solar photovoltaic systems with DC appliances, will use the newly constructed building to demonstrate the overall savings in electricity consumption and thus reducing the electricity bills.

iim-building-2

Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras said, “The GFRG building, which is fit for occupation, showcases the efficacy of the rapid affordable construction technology developed at IIT Madras, and is replicable for mass housing, vertically and horizontally. The use of prefabricated light-weight GFRG panels not only implies faster overall construction time but also a safer working environment. The cost of the construction, with all amenities, has been reduced to about Rs.1, 250 per square foot.”

Explaining the building concept, Prof. Devdas Menon and Prof. A. Meher Prasad of Civil Engineering Department, IIT, Madras said, “Filling the cavities with concrete increases the vertical load-carrying capacity almost tenfold, and inserting vertical steel bars in these cavities, contributes to their earthquake resistance. In a multi-storeyed building, the number of concrete-filled cavities and steel bars can be reduced at the higher floor levels. When used as floor slabs, reinforced concrete beams can be embedded and hidden in some of the cavities, as per the design. The overall weight of the structure and consumption of concrete comes down significantly. Conventional plastering is eliminated.”

Check out following video that shows the demo building -

Via: #-Link-Snipped-#​

Replies

  • Ramani Aswath
    Ramani Aswath
    In 1986 We were transferring a technology for some medical disposables to an NGO women entrepreneur scheme in Kerala run by G Ramachandran (a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi) foundation. A new building had to be constructed complying with requirements for such devices.
    The professor of civil engineering at Trivandrum Engineering college was keen to prove his ideas of low cost construction. We worked closely with him. His concept of the roof was an edge alone reinforced twenty foot long two feet wide cement panels with the top surface level and the bottom with a hyperbolic cylindrical surface along the length. Very little steel was used.

    We used waste granite powder, normally discarded as land fill, from granite processing units for which only haulage had to be paid mixed with cement for the flooring. This could be polished and was very wear resistance even for industrial duty. It also had a nice grey colour.

    It was a three storey building that cost about Rs.250/sq.ft. (1986)

    It is still functioning perfectly well. Unfortunately to my knowledge only one other industry took this up. Coincidentally this one was also another biomedical device technology we transferred though we were not involved in the choice of the designer. We of course interacted closely with the professor as we did on the earlier project.

    Regrettably, appropriate technology seems to have acquired some negative connotations mainly because of, shall we say, inappropriate design by overenthusiastic engineers looking only at costs.

    Good for IIT M to be looking at real life problems.
  • Kaustubh Katdare
    Kaustubh Katdare
    #-Link-Snipped-#, we're not clear about the exact role of IIT-M researchers in conceptualising and designing the house. From the press release, it appears that the team 'extended' the use of GFRG (which was manufactured by the Aussies) in building the entire house and not just walls or other parts of the house.

    Would be interesting if someone from IIT-M reads and tell us more about it.
  • avii
    avii
    Usually how much it would cost to construct such house?
  • Guttu
    Guttu
    Technology can promise that the construction of 2BHK will cost 10 lakh but they cannot promise a 2BHK for 10 lakh. That will largely depend on the real estate price in particular area.
  • Anil Jain
    Anil Jain
    avii
    Usually how much it would cost to construct such house?
    In today's India market 800 SQ ft - 2 BHK would cost around 20 L++

    -CB
  • Sujith S.L.
    Sujith S.L.
    Hi All,

    I would like to construct a house in kerala using the same technology. Please let me know if anyone can help me on this??
  • Kaustubh Katdare
    Kaustubh Katdare
    Sujith S.L.
    Hi All,

    I would like to construct a house in kerala using the same technology. Please let me know if anyone can help me on this??
    I think you should get in touch with Civil Engineering department at IIT Madras. I'm sure they'll be happy to help and share the technology. I however think that the cost of imports of the material could be significant. Not sure though.

    Keep us posted on your progress.
  • NishaKerala
    NishaKerala
    Hi All;

    As far as I am aware, Rapidwall is popular in hot countries like Australia. Can Rapidwall be equally effective in places like Kerala where humidity is very high?
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    The main cost when you get a building done is of the LAND. And I still dont think they can deliver the 800sq ft place within 10lakhs. Even if you consider 1000 rs per sq ft rates, Lowest residential rates in Indian averagely, the land itself will cost 8 lakhs. And I dont think 2 lakhs would be enough to construct the building. Delivery of this building would not be less than 15 lakhs which takes us near to average costs.
  • Kaustubh Katdare
    Kaustubh Katdare
    I'm not aware of the construction costs - but it'd be an interesting thing to know. Of course the cost won't include the cost of the plot - which no one has control over. I hope someone finds out a technology to bring the cost of land down 😉
  • Nayan Goenka
    Nayan Goenka
    this is some advanced type of construction. They will need approval from the town planning commission as well as the contractors will want to earn good profit. The registry costs. A lot of costs are involved in this stuff. Removing the construction, it will be around 15 lakhs in itself. Total cost might be till 25lakhs and now THIS is COSTLY. So the main motive of cheapest homes is gone. I wonder if they had figured out a way to skip this all.
  • Ramesh K K
    Ramesh K K
    I am planning to construct a house at kaloor, kochi. Whom i should contact for getting the required guidance for GFRG construction. Since the land area is very less i need to go for a 1 + 2 construction.

    Please advice me on
  • Brajeshhere
    Brajeshhere
    I am looking to construct a duplex house in Bihar.. who can help me to take up the complete work with GFRG technology..
  • Karthik. S
    Karthik. S
    Ramesh K K
    I am planning to construct a house at kaloor, kochi. Whom i should contact for getting the required guidance for GFRG construction. Since the land area is very less i need to go for a 1 + 2 construction.

    Please advice me on
    We are doing this construction. Pls revert back to us on . we pleased to help you.
  • GGeethaGans
    GGeethaGans
    I would like to build this type of Construction in Coimbatore,Tamilnadu. Whom i should contact for getting details like price/sqft,etc.,? Anybody help me to get an idea about this by explaining clear pros and cons.
  • Venkatesh V
    Venkatesh V
    Karthik. S
    We are doing this construction. Pls revert back to us on . we pleased to help you.
    Hi Karthik .S , I am from Dindigul Tamil Nadu . I am planning for construction in Dindigul . Kindly share your contcat details. So that I can reach you .
  • Karthik. S
    Karthik. S
    GGeethaGans
    I would like to build this type of Construction in Coimbatore,Tamilnadu. Whom i should contact for getting details like price/sqft,etc.,? Anybody help me to get an idea about this by explaining clear pros and cons.
    Hi,
    We are doing this construction right now there is a ongoing project near tiruppur 2200 Sft 2 story residential house. revert back to me on my mail id #-Link-Snipped-#
  • Karthik. S
    Karthik. S
    Venkatesh V
    Hi Karthik .S , I am from Dindigul Tamil Nadu . I am planning for construction in Dindigul . Kindly share your contcat details. So that I can reach you .
    Pls revert back to me on my mail id #-Link-Snipped-# for more details.
  • rakebalboa
    rakebalboa
    hi this is rakesh i am planning to construct a house in madurai, kindly share your contact details.
  • rakebalboa
    rakebalboa
    hi this is rakesh i am planning to construct a house in madurai, kindly share your contact details. my no 9790768304 email id #-Link-Snipped-#
  • Sakthivel Ramachandran
    Sakthivel Ramachandran
    Hi All
    I would like to construct a house in Pondicherry using this technology. Please let me know if anyone can help me on this.
  • Karthik. S
    Karthik. S
    pls mail me your requirements to #-Link-Snipped-#.. we will do our best..
  • ashok1111
    ashok1111
    My friend wants build a cost efffective small farmhouse in Bangalore.Can any body help?
  • rakebalboa
    rakebalboa
    Karthik. S
    Hi,
    We are doing this construction right now there is a ongoing project near tiruppur 2200 Sft 2 story residential house. revert back to me on my mail id #-Link-Snipped-#
    Hi that mail I'd is not working
    Kindly contact me I need to build a house with these concept #-Link-Snipped-#
    9790768304
  • rakebalboa
    rakebalboa
    Hi I would like to construct a house
    Kindly contact me
    #-Link-Snipped-#
    9790768304
  • Vasudev S
    Vasudev S
    I want to construct Independent House G+1, 850 Sq Ft. on Ground Floor, 1150 Sq. Ft. First Floor, what will be total cost for construction. Any one doing GFRG construction in Chennai Please contact me on #-Link-Snipped-#. So that we can discuss further offline
  • Sekhar_B
    Sekhar_B
    Kaustubh Katdare
    I think you should get in touch with Civil Engineering department at IIT Madras. I'm sure they'll be happy to help and share the technology. I however think that the cost of imports of the material could be significant. Not sure though.

    Keep us posted on your progress.
    It would be better ,If u can expand this amazing technology to rural areas also.Even in villages also a common man wanted to build a house,he lost money and time for gathering resources and material and he is unable to invest more money(He spent money for an house where he earns in his entire life).Please tell me how can u share ur technology to a common man.
    Location:Rajahmundry(AP)
  • Lokeshgaddam
    Lokeshgaddam
    I need some civil logos .
  • abul kalam
    abul kalam
    I want to construct a GFRG building in my 900sq.ft land in Nagapattinam. Any Architecture willing to help plz email me at : #-Link-Snipped-#
  • Kalai amutham
    Kalai amutham

    I want to construct a GFRG building in my 800sq.ft land in mayiladuthurai. Any Architecture willing to help plz email me at : amuthanamutha92@gmail.com

  • RapidBuild Dreamhomes
    RapidBuild Dreamhomes

    < Advertisements Removed > 

  • Manivannan Ayyasamy
    Manivannan Ayyasamy

    I would like to construct in Tirunelvelil is it possible

  • Ankita Katdare
    Ankita Katdare

    #-Link-Snipped-# From what I have read, a decent living house of say ground floor and first floor with each floor around 1000 square feet will cost 2400 per square feet + - 100/- So for 800 sq ft house, the cost would be about 20 Lakhs.


  • Bmohanrao Chaitanya
    Bmohanrao Chaitanya

    Sir if construction cost is Rs. 1250 /- per sq.ft. with land  pl let me know

  • Ramani Aswath
    Ramani Aswath

    Land in Jayanagar Bangalore  is going at Rs. 25000/ sq.ft.

  • Vetri Killy
    Vetri Killy

    Sir  am inrest this house plan pls contact me 

  • Sunil kumar h
    Sunil kumar h

    Iam doing project on this one only I estimated G+2 it cost will 20L only  but conventional it will taken 30L but Iam also not getting about this properly


  • Mohd Rasik
    Mohd Rasik

    This is Mohd.Rasik-Green Build Construction Solutions, Nagercoil.

    We do GFRG - Construction in all over Tamilnadu. Contact me for more details @ +91-9444078886 or mail to msrasik@gmail.com

  • ABUNDANT GRACE
    ABUNDANT GRACE

    To constrct in Erode how much would be the cost per sqr ft

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