Tech innovation grant of ₹2.5 lakh planned for 6,000 lighthouse units

The Centre will offer about ₹150 crore as a technology innovation grant to build 6,000 homes – cheaper, faster and better -- using alternative technologies and materials under the Global Housing Technology Challenge launched on Monday.

However, the Challenge may not do much to actually speed the pace of construction under the urban section of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or Housing for All, which has completed just over 10% of its target as the scheme reaches its halfway point.

“We cannot meet urbanising India’s housing needs with existing technologies,” said Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, pointing out that most Indian developers take three years to complete a project. “Houses must be completed in four to five months time. What we need is not technology leapfrogging, but pole-vaulting.”

After a global expo and conference in March, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will invite bids and identify proven demonstrable technologies from around the world, which are to be adapted and mainstreamed for use in the Indian context. By July, six winning bidders will be invited to design and build lighthouse projects of 1,000 housing units each. Apart from state and Central assistance of ₹1.5 lakh each, the Centre will offer an additional technology innovation grant of ₹2.5 lakh for each house, PMAY (Urban) mission director Amrit Abhijat told .

Another section of the Challenge will identify potential future technologies which may not yet be market ready, and offer incubation facilities and accelerator support in collaboration with four of the IITs.

‘Mindset change’

Once innovative technologies have been tested and proved, they will be included in the Central Public Works Department list, with an approved schedule of rates. However, they will still be optional for use, and there is no guarantee they will be adopted by private or government builders, or even used to construct PMAY homes.

“We cannot make it mandatory, we can only encourage states and developers to adopt them. If they are better and cheaper, we expect them to be used. But there is also a mindset change needed,” said Mr. Abhijat. He added that so far, only 12 lakh houses sanctioned under the PMAY (U) scheme have used one of the 14 alternative technologies already on CPWD’s approved list.