States seek IIT-M help to build budget flat
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Chennai: Kerala government is serious in replicating the low-cost budget model flat built by IIT-Madras on its campus to construct almost 6,000 houses for fishermen.
Not just that, several NGOs have approached the government of Uttarakhand to sponsor this budget flat for flood victims, say IIT-M professors. According to them, building the budget flat on 600 sq feet as per their design will cost just Rs 6 lakh.
For economically weaker sections, a decent flat can be built by spending just Rs 4.8 lakh on 260 sq ft space. Going around the budget flat will show you that it is no way inferior to conventional concrete houses. And the astonishing fact is that the budget flat on IIT-M premises was raised within 30 days.
This model, researched in the labs of IIT-M for the last nine years, opened on June 7, 2013. Within a month, the flat model gained popularity and IIT-M professors are flooded with calls. Overwhelmed by the response, they started conducting training classes for building experts and construction contractors interested to switch over to this cost-effective building method.
Explaining the magic of the budget flat construction, Devdas Menon, professor, department of civil engineering, said, “Glass fibre-reinforced gypsum (GFRG) is among the major ingredients, which cuts down building costs. It is a strong panel produced by a mixture of plaster, reinforced with glass fibre. Instead of bricks, GFRG is used to raise walls. Very little steel and concrete is used.”
He said all windows and doors were prefabricated and fixed in no time. Structural design engineer Shinto Paul said, “Budget flat doesn’t mean that it would be of poor quality or lack aesthetics. Our flat is not just affordable but also durable and functional. The Building Material and Technology Promotion Council that approves the construction model has certified our design.”
To know more about the these budget flats, contact: dmenon@iit.ac.in
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