Over the years, there have been several advancements in areas such as infrastructure project design, engineering and construction, with the adoption of the latest technology and smart construction materials. Time and again, the government has given significant attention to rapid infrastructure development. In fact, India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 depends heavily on improving existing infrastructure assets and constructing new ones.
The sector is currently witnessing a much anticipated economic upturn, after an intermittent period of election-related slowdown. However, while achieving construction targets, it is essential to maintain a balance between infrastructure development and environmental conservation. While government initiatives are undeniably shaping the future of infrastructure, innovative technologies such as the precast construction method are steadily enhancing project efficiency.
Policy framework finding its footing
Construction is now based on the principles of sustainability – minimise energy consumption, reduce waste and optimise the use of resources throughout a project’s life cycle, right from design and construction to the operations and maintenance phase. In line with global trends, these practices are now gaining prominence in India. To this end, the precast method has emerged as a transformative solution.
The National Highway Precast Concrete Policy has witnessed a nuanced journey. Before its formal launch, the National Highways Authority of India prudently sought stakeholder feedback – a strategic move to engage those directly involved in execution – before moving forward with it. Although only the road sector has formally adopted this policy, several other ministries have expressed strong support and are actively contributing to its success.
Given India’s diversity, each project faces unique on-ground requirements, with certain climate zones, such as the Himalayan and coastal regions, demanding locality-specific construction methods. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all mandatory policy would overlook these crucial regional differences. Despite this, the policy is a positive and necessary step for the industry, marking an important move towards decarbonising the sector.
Under the precast policy, around 25 per cent of precast concrete components are manufactured off-site and transported to the construction site for assembly. This demonstrates the government’s efforts to enhance construction quality. Manufacturing components in a dedicated precast plant enables better quality control, uniformity and optimal curing conditions, ensuring the durability and strength of the final product. Speed is a key advantage. Components are produced in advance and delivered ready for installation, significantly reducing construction timelines and making precast especially suited for projects with tight deadlines. Safety and efficiency during the process benefits the project as well, with most production carried out at ground level, minimising on-site hazards and reducing the need for extensive scaffolding or formwork. Even complex elements like girders, bridge sections and pillars are fabricated off-site and swiftly assembled on-site, saving labour, minimising waste and maintaining consistent quality. Furthermore, the reusability of moulds and reduction in on-site construction waste contribute to a lower carbon footprint, closely aligning with India’s green building initiatives and climate commitments.
Where policy meets practice
In recent times, numerous reports have highlighted the persistent issue of cost and time overruns in infrastructure projects. In tandem with this troubling trend, as of April 2025, nearly 43 per cent of ongoing projects are facing significant delays, resulting in cost overruns of approximately Rs 5 trillion. These substantial overruns present critical challenges for the construction sector, severely undermining the sustainability and viability of project execution.
Against this backdrop, the construction industry now stands at a crossroads. Traditional construction methods have reliably delivered infrastructure for decades, but increasing pressure to modernise is driving the adoption of advanced technologies like precast construction. Although developers and builders are beginning to integrate these innovations, overall progress remains slow. Nonetheless, cross-sector infrastructure projects are increasingly embracing the large-scale use of prefabricated materials, signalling a gradual but definite shift towards more efficient construction practices.
Digging into some of the key sectors, there is a clear focus on adopting prefabrication to reduce costs, boost productivity and accelerate project timelines. In the railway sector, the redevelopment of the Chandigarh railway station is a key example. Upcoming airports are also setting new standards for efficiency and durability. Recently, Multi Decor India Private Limited partnered with Tata Projects to work on the prefabricated site office at the upcoming Jewar airport, covering an area of around 32,000 square feet.
The rapid expansion of India’s internet and smartphone user base has driven a surge in demand for data centre infrastructure, where prefabrication is preferred for its adaptability to fast evolving technological requirements. The method is also being used in hydropower bridges. For instance, Bridge and Roof, an engineering, procurement and construction enterprise, has worked with North East Electric Power Limited to supply the 600-foot-long Chubi bridge (continuous Bailey bridge) over the Doyang river, which also includes the Doyang hydroelectric project in Okha, Nagaland. Furthermore, recent years have witnessed an increase in the integration of tunnel boring machines with prefabricated construction techniques in Indian metro projects, resulting in significantly faster completion of underground segments, as seen in the Lucknow metro project. Precast concrete segments, such as the balanced cantilever method for bridge construction, are increasingly being adopted in various projects to improve efficiency and quality control.
Navigating the dual stakes through a balanced approach
While India was initially underprepared for this technology, with stricter government regulations and tighter project deadlines, the precast policy has steadily gained ground over traditional construction methods, though the latter continues to see greater market adoption. This trend, too, is likely to change steadily in the future, with industry reports indicating that the precast industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.2 per cent by 2030.
Moreover, the policy has received strong support from national construction programmes such as the Smart Cities Mission, Housing for All, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Bharatmala and Sagarmala Pariyojana. In particular, precast technology has proven highly effective in urban housing projects as limited land availability has restricted horizontal development, pushing real estate and development of buildings towards vertical construction.
Measuring the wins and woes of any policy is crucial. While the precast policy marks a significant step towards decarbonisation and will undoubtedly contribute to modernising India’s construction sector, mandatory implementation may create more complications than solutions due to regional and climatic variations. Construction in India should promote innovations that align with the country’s unique conditions rather than opposing them. Instead of a blanket mandate, India requires a thoughtful and phased approach that accounts for economic realities and slowly builds industry capacity, ultimately benefitting both developers and infrastructure users.
Some realistic initial steps could include offering targeted tax benefits, streamlining approval processes and providing other incentives to encourage precast adoption wherever appropriate. Developing comprehensive training programmes will be essential to help workers transition smoothly to new construction methods. Additionally, piloting precast techniques in government projects before broader roll-out can demonstrate effectiveness and build confidence. Dedicated funding for research to tailor these methods to region-specific conditions will also ensure successful implementation.
As India accelerates its infrastructure transformation, prioritises sustainable infrastructure and emphasises timely project delivery, precast concrete is no longer merely an option but an essential component. Backed by robust policy support, increasing private investment and growing cross-sector applications, the precast industry is poised to reshape the country’s infrastructure landscape. With India’s expanding infrastructure pipeline and inflow of investments – spanning road networks, logistics parks, airports, industrial corridors and smart cities – precast technology will play an indispensable role in meeting the escalating demand for efficient and timely construction.
Harman Mangat
