Fly Ash and Affordable Housing in India's Newest 'Smart CIty'

New Delhi-

With only 1% of the population being able to afford housing at Rs 10 lakh (approx. $22,000 USD) or more, the government aims to provide affordable housing to the public for an estimated Rs 5 lakh.

To make housing more affordable for New Delhians, The Modi government has begun using waste materials in construction as well as furnishing for recent housing projects. With the object of creating ‘smart cities’, reliant on being environmentally and cost efficient, the government is experimenting with steel structures that will use 70% fly ash. These 450 sq foot houses rely on solar powered energy and consist of furniture made of fly ash.

Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport Highways and Shipping Minister asserts that providing housing at this price will allow for a third of the population to afford housing. This is a big step towards financial independence for the poor. The housing will be provided with a subsidy that will also help with affordability.

Due to utilization and shipping logistics concerned with fly ash, the major port cities will be the target of these new ‘smart’ buildings. Gadkari went on to encourage investors to engage in public private partnerships (PPPs) in the twelve major India ports, as governments become increasingly keen on providing land in these areas for eco-friendly construction. Handling approximately 61% of India’s total cargo traffic are it’s twevle major ports - Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambaranar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia).