GHTC-India Launch 14th Jan, 2019

The Government of India, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the Global Housing Technology Challenge – India(GHTC-India) on the 14th of January 2019 at New Delhi by Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, the Hon’ble Minister (in charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs. GHTC- India intends to get best globally available innovative construction technologies through a challenge process. It seeks to demonstrate and deliver ready to live-in houses in a shorter time, with lower cost and quality construction in a sustainable manner. It also seeks to promote future technologies, to foster an environment of research and development in the country.

Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO NITI Aayog, Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Amrit Abhijat, Joint Secretary & Mission Director (HFA), MoHUA, senior officers of the Ministry, besides various stakeholders in the construction industry were also present at the launch. Over 300 people attended the launch including government agencies, technologists, experts, developers and all major media houses.

GHTC-India has been conceptualized to enable the paradigm shift required in the construction sector in the country. GHTC-India will bring change, both in the perception as well as the manner in which construction of houses is done. The challenge has three components viz.

1. Conduct of Grand Expo-cum-Conference,
2. Identifying Proven Demonstrable Technologies from across the world and
3. Promoting Potential Technologies through setting up incubation centers at selected IITs and organizing accelerator workshops under the Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators- India (ASHA-India) Program.

A Grand Expo and Conference will be organized to provide a platform to all stakeholders associated with housing construction for the exchange of knowledge and business. This event will be conducted biennially. Proven and demonstrable technology providers from across the globe and India will be invited to the Expo so that the organizers of GHTC-India may evaluate and assess the range of technologies available. Potential future technologies will also be invited and screened to participate at the expo.

Other Stakeholders such as academia, students of technical institutes, technologists, engineers, architects, Research and Development (R&D) institutes, Government agencies including housing boards & state Public Works Department (PWDs), developers, entrepreneurs etc. will be invited to participate as delegates. Developers and construction companies who may serve as local support partners to execute project on ground in partnership with global technology providers will also be invited.