* Engineer-in-Chief, Haryana PWD (B&R), Chandigarh and Senior Vice President, Indian Buildings Congress # Associate Professor, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research Institute (NITTTR), Chandigarh

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ECONOMICS OF USING MODERN CONSTRUCTION

MATERIALS /TECHNIQUE

MAHESH KUMAR* SURESH KUMAR GUPTA#

Introduction

Nirman Sadan building is located on plot No. 1 & 2 measuring 3.19 acres, Sector-33/A, Chandigarh

is the Head office building of Engineer-In-Chief, Haryana PW (B&R) Deptt. and Chief Architect. The

building comprises of three blocks with basements with total covered area of 10,435.88 sqm. or

1,12,290 sft. Basements accommodates parking, services and for storing record. Block A being six

storied with covered area 5,767.74 sqm. (62060.88 sft), Block B being double storied with covered

area of 1,494.75 sqm (16,083.51 sft) and Block C being four storied with covered area of 3,173.39

sqm. (34,145.67 sft).

Figure 1 : Nirman Sadan, Sector : 33-A, Chandigarh

Abstract This paper presents an assessment of the work executed by Public Works Department Haryana to construct the office building of PWD (B&R) & Architecture Departments of Haryana. The innovations made in the construction of this building at various stages of selection of site, design, choice of materials and process of execution has been discussed. A comparison has been made regarding saving in cost of various finishing items executed through departmental purchase viz-a-viz works executed through contractual agencies.

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Awards and Acclamations

Nirman Sadan has won four National level awards:

(i) Indian State Architecture award for the year 2010, “20th AYA State Commendation Award” by

J.K. Cement Ltd.

(ii) CIDC Vishwakarma Award 2010

(iii) “Award of Excellence in Built Environment” for the year 2009 by the Indian Building Congress

(iv) Best Landscape in Institutions Category in the Rose Festival 2011 by Chandigarh Administration.

Site

The site for this Office Building Complex is located on National Highway-21 in Sector- 33 A

Chandigarh. The Important location of the site, the strict architectural control and building

regulations of Chandigarh Administration made the job of planning this building more challenging.

The site, rectangular in shape, measuring 3.19 acres has access from the NH-21 and falls on the

important crossing opposite Sub City Centre.

Design Constraints

The design of this building was a more challenging task due to multiple constraints and parameters

which are mandatory as per bylaws of the Chandigarh Administration. The site parameters include

zoning setback, height restrictions, ground coverage and F.A.R. in addition to the strict façade

control which demands the total buildings to be in harmony with the Architectural character of

Chandigarh. The ground coverage was limited to 16% of the site with maximum F.A.R. as 0.65.

Volumetric zoning and parking norms which were also stringent but followed.

Green Building

This new building of Nirman Sadan is a Green Building and is well planned oriented North South,

well cross ventilated with sufficient natural light. This building remains cool in summer and warm in

winters. There are independent central courtyards in each block. Beautiful lush green lawns and

variety of potted plants have been provided. It is an Energy Efficient building and all provisions of

Energy conservation Building Code (ECBC) have been followed. Other salient features are Solar

water heating, Rain water harvesting, Barrier free environment, local area networking (LAN). Energy

Conservation Devices as per HAREDA and BEE Guidelines. Energy Efficient Lights i.e. CFLs and T-5

are used in the building with saving of about 25% in electricity consumption. Moreover, light of CFL

and T-5 is much more than the normal fittings.

Codal Compliance & Innovations in Specifications/Technology

This building has been structurally designed as per latest Seismic Ductile Detaining Code IS

13920:1993 and seismic design codes IS-1893-2002 and IS-4326. A slope of 1:80 has been provided

in RCC roof slab at top and a slope of 1:80 given in the tile terracing gives a total slope is 1:40

ensuring that there will be no leakage during rainy season. C.I. pipes of toilets have not been

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embedded in depressed slabs to avoid seepage generally occurring in buildings. These pipes are

hanging beneath the RCC slabs and any leakage can easily get noticed. G.I. pipes are painted and

covered with tape to increase the life of the pipes and also for ensuring leak proofing.

Figure 2 : CI Pipes hanging beneath the RCC slabs

Economy achieved by Departmental Purchase

This building has been constructed very economically and construction cost is Rs.1283/- per sft.

including internal EI & PH services. The department has constituted purchase committee for

purchasing the construction materials like aluminum, flooring stone like Kotah, White marble,

Baroda green, granite, ceramic tiles, structural glazing work, false ceiling work etc. The purchase

committee has made a liaison/negotiation directly with the manufacturers and got the maximum

discounts ranging from 30% to 50% on MRP and in some items, the department got the discount

more than the dealer price list of the company. Therefore by procuring the materials

departmentally, the department has made a saving of approx. 20% of the project cost.

Comparison of some items like aluminum, flooring stone like Kotah Stone, White marble, Baroda

green, granite, ceramic tiles, structural glazing work, false ceiling work etc. is given below :-

Table -1: Comparison of Aluminum cost between departmental purchase and allotted rate on

other works.

S. No.

Description of Item Cost of Material through departmental purchase

Cost of material if executed through agency (Allotted on other works)

Cost saving through departmental purchase

Rate Amount Rate Amount

1 Quantity of Aluminum purchased : 36593.30 kg

Providing and fixing of Aluminum in windows frames etc. including cost of powder coating

Rs. 208.83 per kg

7641779 Rs. 320 per kg

11709856 4068077 Say Rs. 40.68 lacs

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Table -2: Comparison of Structural Glazing & Aluminum Composite Work between deptt. purchase and allotted rate on other works.

Sr. No.

Description of Item Cost of Material through departmental purchase

Cost of material if executed through agency (Allotted on other works)

Cost saving through departmental purchase

Rate Amount Rate Amount

Areas : 11770.87 sft

1 Providing and fixing the structural glazing with aluminum panel etc. complete in all respects

Rs. 270/- per sft

3178135 Rs. 390/- per sft

4590639 1412504

2 Providing and fixing the aluminium composite panels. complete in all respects

Rs. 220/- per sft

796983 Rs. 330/- per sft

1195474 398491

Total 1810995

Table -3: Comparison of flooring items costs executed at Nirman Sadan Building between HSR rates (allotted) and departmental purchase.

Sr. No.

Description of items

Qty./Area Cost of material if executed through agency (Allotted)

Cost of Material through deptt. purchase

Cost saving through departmental purchase

Rates as per HSR

Premium

Amount Amount

1. White Marble [HSR 14.49 a(i)]

730.19 sqm Rs.782/20 Per sqm

60% 9,13,874/-

2. Kotah stone [HSR 14.62]

3377.38 sqm

Rs.201/95 Per sqm

135% 16,02,845/-

3. Granite [HSR 14.94]

2556.30 sqm

Rs.2600/- Per sqm

- 66,46,380/-

4. Baroda Green [HSR 14.49 c(i)]

5055.58 sqm

Rs.732/75 Per sqm

60% 59,27,162/-

Total

11,719.45 sqm. Or 1,26,151.38 sft.

Rs.1,50,90,234/- Total actual cost of purchase of flooring material through department

Rs.71,16,017/-

Add 25% above HSR+CP allotted to agency

Rs.37,72,558/-

Total Rs.1,88,62,792/- Rs.71,16,017/-

Rate cost per sft.

1,88,62,792 1,26,151.38 =Rs.149.52

Rate cost per sft 71,16,017 1,26,151.38

=Rs.56.41 Labour Rate for Fixing Rs. 34.00 Total rate per sft. Rs. 90.41

Difference of rate cost per sft. Rs.149.52-Rs.90.41=Rs.59.11

1,26,151.38 sft. X Rs. 59.11 =

Rs.7456808/- Say Rs. 74.57 lacs (Saving 60%)

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Table – 4: Comparison of Wooden Frame with Aluminum Frame

S. No.

Description of Item Cost of Wooden Frame (Section 4” x 2 ½ “) HSR 17.90(B)

Cost of Aluminum Frame (Section 4” x 2 ½ “)

Difference

Qty. Rate Amount Qty. Rate Amount

1 Taking length of frame = 5 meter

Providing and fixing of frame 0.0325 Cu.mtr

Rs.36703 per Cum

Rs.1193 12 kg Rs.300/- per kg

Rs.3600 Rs.344 per running meter

Figure 3 : Flooring in Nirman Sadan Figure 4 : False Ceiling

Remodelleing of Old Furniture

The old furniture has been remodelled. The department has purchased the furniture material

directly from the manufacturer and furniture like work stations, partitons, storage etc. were

manufactured on labour rates at site as per the requirement of the staff. The old wooden tables

have been used by modifying there sizes and converting them into work stations. In this way,

department has done saving of more than Rs.20.00 lacs in furniture items by doing the work

departmentally.

Conclusion & Recommendations

There is a general tendency to deviate from standard scheduled items in the name of using

modern / inovative construction materials.

Often the non-schedule items are sanctioned at higher rates as the base rate of materials is

generally taken as MRP although these materials might be available at discounts ranging from

20 % to 30% when purchased directly by the department.

The experiment of executing the finishing items in Nirman Sadan departmentally by

constituting committees of officers has proved to be very successful which has resulted into a

saving of around 30% in finishing items. Not only we were able to do a quality job but also

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completed the building in a record time which saved lacs of rupees of extension the which

would have to be deposited to Chandigarh Administration in case the dead lines were not

achieved.

References

i. Haryana PWD Specifications, 1990.

ii. Haryana PWD Schedule of rates, 1988 2nd addition

iii. Analysis of rates of Haryana PWD schedule of rates, 1988, Volume-I.