The President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee laid the foundation stone of a housing complex in the President's Estate today (November 12, 2012). He unveiled the plaque for construction of fifty Type-II Quarters for subordinate staff of the President's Secretariat.

Smt. Omita Paul, Secretary to the President, Shri Sudhir Krishna, Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, Shri Rakesh Mishra, DG, CPWD and Smt. Sobhna Chatterjee, Chief Architect, CPWD were present on the occasion.

There are total 576 Staff quarters dwelling units in Type I category spread in 13 Blocks of the President's Estate. Most of the houses were constructed during 1927 to 1932. These houses are now dilapidated, have outlived their life and are beyond economical maintenance and repairs. In the Redevelopment Scheme of the President's Estate, these quarters are being replaced by well designed Type II quarters.

The new housing complex will be built as per following green building parameters laid down by CPWD.

Utilization of Fly ash in building structure (e.g. use of fly ash mixed cement, use of Auto Claved Aerated Cement (AAC) Blocks and Fly Ash Lime Gypsum (FALG) bricks instead of normal bricks in non-load bearing wall).

Efficient water use during construction by using curing compounds for RCC works instead of normal water curing.

Reduce volume, wait and time of construction by using Ready Mix Concrete.

Reuse of dismantled bricks and ensuring reuse of other dismantled material.

Thermal Insulation of outer walls and top roof, use of high performance glass in doors and windows instead of normal glass, etc.

Renewable energy utilization (e.g. Solar water heating system for hot water supply).

Recycle and reuse of Grey Water for flushing.

Use of low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints.

Less air pollution during construct.

In addition, the new construction will have external stone cladding, stone moulding and stone jali to match with the original architecture of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The building will meet all the requirements of three star GRIHA structures.

This release issued at 1600 hrs