MHADA built homes are the sturdier ones and able to withstand seismic shocks believes the state home provider. “Our homes have been tested by IIT engineers and they have certified that these buildings can withstand an earthquake,” said an official of Shirke Constructions, the contractor appointed by MHADA.

 

Besides this they are cheaper than those built by private developers. The reason, believes experts, is houses constructed by Maharashtra Housing and Area Developing Authority (MHADA) are made of prefabricated material that is nearly 15 per cent cheaper than the bricks used by private developers to build houses.

 

Prefab is a mixture of cement and fly ash and is used in larger sizes as blocks to construct beams, columns, floor and walls

 

Most houses constructed by the housing authority are equipped to withstand major earthquakes like the one that hit Gujarat over a decade ago. According to experts, while building an apartment, the conventional way costs around R2,000 per square foot, buildings that use the prefab method costs around Rs 1750-1800 per square foot.

 

Prefab is essentially a blend of cement and fly ash. It is used in larger sizes as blocks to construct beams, columns, floor, walls and even staircases of the building. MHADA uses the same technique to construct buildings in Mumbai and other areas.