The approach adopted was via online survey questionnaires, case studies, physical interviews as well as telephonic interviews. The questionnaire was circulated through an online platform to precast professionals across India and UAE. Also, it was circulated to developers, builders, and realtors in India order to take their views into account while analyzing the data. It mainly targeted all the metro cities. The interviews were conducted with the precast manufacturers of Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai.
Research strategy
- Main Contractor
- Consultants
- Developers
- Architect
Analysis of interviews
Interview responses were recorded in a suitable electronic device and the responses, discussions, and views were segregated into the following objectives –
- To explore problems of implementation of precast Building technology
- To study different stages & process involved in Precast Concrete Construction of commercial, industrial and residential sectors
- To investigate the barriers of precast industry and overcome them with alternative guidelines
- To explore future opportunities in Precast Concrete Construction
Interviewers believed that change management is the biggest barrier in order to flourish the precast industry in the market. The developers are reluctant to change their mentality from conventional to precast methodology. Secondly, connections are also one major Issue. The designers from India have no Indian standard to refer. They are referring to PCI code of provisions. Contractors are reluctant to accept the connections provided by the precast designers.
For the precast development you need to target the right cities where there is a high development people are shortage of homes and there is real demand of homes. Moreover precast manufacturers need to set up the factory based precast plant. It should be located in a such a way it is near upcoming large development areas in order to avoid transportation costs.
On site plant Vs Factory based plant
One major argument that different precast professionals had extreme opinions was on the set up the type of precast plant, either Factory based plant or Site based. Some responders suggested that Site based plant is only the solution to Indian Precast industry for economical construction due to the huge amount of taxes applicable to a manufacturing industry (Factory based plant), initial investment for a factory setup & due to lack of good quality roads that could sustain the load of a trailer (20 to 25 tonnes);
whereas a few others, on the contrary, believed that site based plant is not an ideal option for the Indian construction industry as although it would eliminate the transportation cost but could hamper the quality of the precast elements thereby losing one important attribute of the precast technology. Also, Prestressed elements such as hollow core slabs cannot be casted on site as it is a permanent setup.
Attitude of the developers
The risk of adopting a new technology and the question of consequences of such huge investment is resisting developers to realize the strengths of precast completely; but the pressure to meet the project completion timelines and rising demands of urbanization, would eventually lead to the growth of technology in next 5 years.