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INDUSTRY FOCUS PRECAST & PRECAST EQUIPMENT

cement, steel, water, energy, and human labor, thereby generating CAGR of over 8% during the forecast period (2022-2027). There is
less waste in the factory and at the construction site. Precast a big opportunity for prefab companies in India, and hundreds of
construction allows parts of an entire building to be made even thousands of plants are expected to be required in the future. Over
before the completion of the foundation for the same. Modular the next few years, India will feature among the fastest-growing
constructions take only four to eight weeks to be completed and countries in terms of construction output, making technology
assembled, while the conventional on-site constructed buildings intervention a key component. India is expected to become
require twice the time for construction of a similar-sized structure. the third-largest construction market in the world by 2025. Prefab
Improved quality and productivity, shortened construction time, and construction doesn’t require significant investment to maintain it.
reduced waste generation make this type of construction method While some cities, such as Bengaluru, have adopted the concept
cheaper and so a preferable choice for end users. of prefab, other parts of India continue to face challenges, owing
to issues such as government approvals and the lack of suitable
Columns & Beams leading the growth land for construction.
Columns and beams are expected to be the most popular Between 1901 and 2021, India’s urban population grew at a
element in the precast concrete market. Precast columns and rapid speed, resulting in a scarcity of land, housing, congested
beams are widely used in both the residential and non-residential transportation, and basic facilities. Precast construction, with proper
sectors, and they can be found in both building and non-building planning and execution, can meet the needs of the housing
structures. Factors such as rising public and private infrastructure market. Till date, precast construction accounts for only 2% of the
spending, particularly in the emerging economies of APAC, South Indian construction industry’s US$500 million market. Precast systems
America, and the Middle East, and rising demand for residential are mostly used in India for infrastructure projects such as bridges
constructions as a result of rapid urbanisation have all contributed and flyovers. To meet housing demands, the Central Government
to the rise in demand for precast columns and beams. has approved the use of precast concrete construction methods.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation,
Enhanced safety approximately 96% of 18.78 million dwelling units belong to
Increasing development of commercial infrastructure across the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low Income Group (LIG)
globe is propelling the demand for cost-effective raw materials such households. The Government of India proposed “Housing for All”
as precast concrete slabs, pavers, blocks, and others. However, with as part of the Pradhan Mantri Awash Yojana scheme (PMAY). To
rising incidence of accidents on-site due to the use of cheap raw meet the PMAY-2022 target, precast technology is being used to
materials, end users are increasing the use of natural raw materials. improve construction quality while also shortening the project’s
As these precast concrete slabs and other components are made execution time.
from natural materials, they can be reused and recycled entirely. In February 2022, EPACK Prefab (turnkey solution providers of
They are also constructed in controlled environment and hence, innovative and efficient building materials and packaging
reduces the life cycle impact of these materials on environment. solutions) provides Amarnath Yatra Pilgrims the Safe and finest
accommodation with modern facilities. They accomplished this
The India growth story project, which consists of G+2 buildings with modern facilities. There
According to Mordor Intelligence research estimates, the were several obstacles, ranging from thefts to a lack of proper
prefabricated building market in India is expected to register a infrastructure for transporting the materials.

50 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|JULY 2022