Efficient utilisation of land, a major challenge: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in Delhi

New Delhi (PTI): Efficient utilisation of land has become one of the major challenges of rapid economic development, especially in the urban areas, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said on Friday.

"Land is scarce and very expensive, especially in metro cities. In the light of limited land available, construction has to move vertical in the form of high-rise buildings," said Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

One of the major challenges of rapid economic development, especially in the urban areas, has been efficient utilisation of land, he said at a national seminar organised by the CPWD on "High-Rise Buildings" at Vigyan Bhawan. Mishra also lauded the role of the Central Public Work Department (CPWD) for completely revamping the central construction agency and making it a thinking organisation. He encouraged the CPWD to use more innovations, and used IT and new technologies in the processes, materials and construction practices.

A short film on 'CPWD Works at Remote Area' was also screened and a compendium and December edition newsletter of the department was also released at the event. Speaking on the occasion, Prabhakar Singh, Director General, CPWD, listed achievements of the department and talked about the CPWD's role as a work executing agency and as a principal technical advisor to the central government. The CPWD has so far approved and adopted 36 modern technologies in its works to ensure speedy, eco-friendly, neat and tidy execution with minimal environmental pollution and have also brought out 26 major publications listing work and research, he stated.