IJSTE - International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering | Volume 3 | Issue 09 | March 2017

ISSN (online): 2349-784X

Cost Optimization by Providing Affordable

Housing for Lower Income Group
Ashish S. Yeolekar Parth Patel
PG Student Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering Department of Civil Engineering
LDRP Institute of Technology and Research Center India LDRP Institute of Technology and Research Center India

Abstract
Adequate shelter for all people is one of the crucial challenges faced by the developing countries like India. In India by 2013,
shortage of 30 million homes with almost 99% of the shortfall coming from families earning less than 2 lakhs rupees per year
(EWS & LIG segment).According to census 2011 India has 65 million of slum population and by 2017 it will outreach 104 million.
The country had a population of 1210.98 million, out of which 377.10(31.16%) lives in Urban areas. This growing concentration
of people in urban areas has led to problems of land shortage, housing shortfall and has also several basic amenities such as water,
power and open spaces of towns and cities. Urbanization has resulted in people increasingly living in slums and squatter settlements
and has deteriorated the housing conditions of the economically weaker section of society. This is primarily due to skyrocketing
prices of land and real estate in urban areas that have forced the poor and economically weaker section of the society to occupy the
marginal lands typified by poor housing stock, congestion and obsolescence. Considering these factors there currently exists a
wide gap between the demand and supply of housing (both in terms of quantity and quality) in urban areas. Hence, it has become
a necessity for developing country like India to adopt cost effective, innovative housing for the construction of houses for enabling
the people to construct houses at affordable cost. Our project aims to reduce the cost of building by replacing ordinary material
with latest one and suggest new methodology which will reduce cost as well as do not affect the strength of the structure.
Keywords: Affordable, Affordable Housing, Low Cost Housing, LIG, EWS
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION

This thesis project is done for Lower Income Group therefore we have considered a 1 LIG Unit. Generally in a Building
Construction Masonry work and Plaster work are one of the major items so we focus on that to reduce the cost. A cost of the same
unit by using AAC Blocks, Fly ash bricks, Hollow Plinth Block, CSEB Blocks instead of normal bricks in masonry will be
optimize. We also provide a suitable technique for construction which will reduce the time of construction. In this procedure for
low cost housing cost optimization will be done in two ways by using latest and conventional material and also by a latest technique
for construction. We ensure that also that it will not affect the strength and quality of the construction.

II. DATA COLLECTION

Table - 1
Material Rates
Sr. No Types of Material Market Rate per Brick/Block(in Rs)
1 Normal Brick 4.5 to 5
2 Autoclaved aerated concrete blocks 75 to 80
3 Fly Ash bricks 5.5. to 6
4 Hollow concrete blocks 19 to 25

III. ANALYSIS

Cost Reduction by Brickwork

First take a wall having 10 sq. m of area and 1 cum volume.
Considering the first class brick size of 190*90*90 mm
Material required for it
No of bricks required: 1cum/ (0.200*0.100*0.100) = 500 no s of brick will be required.
Considering 5 % of wastage so no of brick required will be 525 nos.
Assuming 10*10*10mm binding mortar.
Now for mortar cement and sand assuming 1:4 mortar proportion

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 Cost Optimization by Providing Affordable Housing for Lower Income Group
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Fig. 1: Normal Brick

Cement
For 1 cu.m of brick work 0.33 cu.m of mortar will required.
So total cement required will be 0.33/5 = 0.066 cum
So for 0.066 cum of brick work 0.066/0.035 = 1.88 bags
Considering 2 bags of cement.
Sand: for 0.33 cum of work sand required will be 0.33*4/5=0.264 cu.m.
Considering 0.27 cum of sand.
Table - 2
Material Cost
Material Cost in Rs. Required Quantity Total Cost in Rs.
Bricks 5 per nos 525 nos 2625
Cement 300 Per bag 2 Bag 600
Sand 900 Per Cum 0.27 Cum 243
Sundries 50
Total Cost 1450
Table - 3
Labour cost
Labour No of required Per day Rate Total Rate
Mason 1 400 400
Labour 3 250 750
50
Total Cost 1200
Total Cost of Brick Work
Table 4
Total Cost
Particular Cost in Rs
Material Cost 3518
Labour cost 1200
Total 4718
W&E, Scaffolding charges 0.15% 7
Profit 15% 708
Total Cost 5433
Total Cost per sq.m 543.3
For AAC Blocks
AAC block have 0.630x0.250x0.150 m dimension and its market price is around 75 to 80 Rs per Block.
No of blocks required will be 1cum/0.640x0.260x0.160= 35.18 taking 40
Cement and sand required
Total mortar will be 0.19cum
So cement required will be 1.2 bags
Sand required will be 0.16 cum
So total cost using AAC block will be

Fig. 2: A.A.C Block

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 Cost Optimization by Providing Affordable Housing for Lower Income Group
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Table - 6
Material Rate
Material Cost in Rs. Required Quantity Total Cost in Rs.
AAC blocks 75 per nos 40 nos 2625
Cement 300 Per bag 1.2 Bag 600
Sand 900 Per Cum 0.16 Cum 243
Sundries 50
Total Cost 1450
Table - 7
Labour Rate
Labour No of required Per day Rate Total Rate
Mason 1 400 400
Labour 3 250 750
50
Total Cost 1200
But here AAC Block are much lighter than Bricks so there will be 25% reduction in labour cost so total labour cost will be
Table - 8
Total Cost
Particular Cost in Rs
Material Cost 3554
Labour cost 900
Total 4454
W&E, Scaffolding charges 0.15% 7
Profit 15% 668
Total Cost 5129
Total Cost per sq. m 512.9
For Fly Ash Bricks
Fly ash bricks have 0.230x0.115x0.90m dimensions and market price is around 5.5 to 6 rs per brick
No of bricks required will be 1 cum/0.240x0.125x0.100= 333.33 taking 350
Total mortar will be- 1.5 bags
So cement required will be: 1.5 bags
Sand required will be: 0.180 cum

Fig. 3: Fly ash Brick

Table - 8
Material Rate
Material Cost in Rs Required Quantity Total Cost in Rs
Fly ash Bricks 5.5 per nos 350 nos 1925
Cement 300 Per bag 1.5 Bag 400
Sand 900 Per Cum 0.180 Cum 162
Sundries 50
Total Cost 2587
Table 9
Cost of Fly Ash brick
Labour No of required Per day Rate Total Rate
Mason 1 400 400
Labour 3 250 750
Sundries 50
Total Cost 1200

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 Cost Optimization by Providing Affordable Housing for Lower Income Group
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Table 10
Total Cost
Particular Cost in Rs
Material Cost 2587
Labour cost 1200
Total 3787
W & E, Scaffolding charges 0.15% 6
Profit 15% 567
Total Cost 4360
Total Cost per sq. m 436
For CSEB Blocks
CSEB blocks have 0.295*0.140*0.90 m of dimension and its market price is around 3.5 to 4 rs per block
No of bricks required will be 1 cum/0.305*0.160*0.100 =205 taking 220
Total mortar will be 0.24cum
So cement required will be: 1.5 bags
Sand required will be: 0.2cum

Fig. 4: CSEB Blocks

Table - 11
Material cost
Material Cost in Rs. Required Quantity Total Cost in Rs.
CSEB Blocks 3.5 per nos 220 nos 770
Cement 300 Per bag 1.5 Bag 450
Sand 900 Per Cum 0.180 Cum 180
Sundries 50
Total Cost 1450
Table 12
Labour Cost
Labour No of required Per day Rate Total Rate
Mason 1 400 400
Labour 3 250 750
Sundries 50
Total Cost 1200
Cost of CSEB Block
Table 13
Total Cost
Particular Cost in Rs
Material Cost 1450
Labour cost 1200
Total 2650
W&E, Scaffolding charges 0.15% 4
Profit 15% 398
Total Cost 3052
Total Cost per sq.m 305.2
For Hollow Concrete Block
Hollow concrete block have 400*200*100 m of dimension and its market price is around 19 to 25 rs per block
No of bricks required will be 1 cum/0.410*210*110 =106 taking120
Total mortar will be 0.16cum
So cement required will be: 1 bag
Sand required will be: 0.14 cu m

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 Cost Optimization by Providing Affordable Housing for Lower Income Group
(IJSTE/ Volume 3 / Issue 09 / 057)

Fig. 5: Hollow Concrete Block

Table - 14
Material cost
Material Cost in Rs. Required Quantity Total Cost in Rs.
Hollow Blocks 20 per nos 120 nos 2400
Cement 300 Per bag 1 Bags 300
Sand 900 Per Cum 0.14 Cum 126
Sundries 50
Total Cost 2876
Table - 15
Labour cost
Labour No of required Per day Rate Total Rate
Mason 1 400 400
Labour 3 250 750
Sundries 50
Total Cost 1200
Cost of Hollow Concrete Block
Table - 16
Total cost
Particular Cost in Rs
Material Cost 2876
Labour cost 1200
Total 4076
W&E, Scaffolding charges 0.15% 6
Profit 15% 600
Total Cost 4693
Total Cost per sq.m 469.3
Now for cost reduction in brick work we have selected following material
Table shows the material we have selected and their size, market price etc.
Table - 5
Market Rate of materials
Type of Brick Size of Brick in mm Nos of required Price per Brick/Block
Normal Block 190x90x90 525 4.5 to 5
A.A.C Block 625x240x150 63 75 to 80
C.S.E.B Block 295x140x90 250 3.5 to 4
Fly ash Brick 400x200x100 350 5.5 to 6
Hollow Concrete Blocks 400x200x100 118 19 to 26
So total cost of brickwork using different material will be in per sq. m
Table -17
Cost of Brickwork per m3
Types of Brick/ Total cost of Brickwork Dry Density Compressive Strength
Block per sq. m kg/m3 kg/sq. m
Normal Brick 540 to 560 1800-2000 3.5
A.A.C Block 490 to 520 600-800 3-4
C.S.E.B Block 300 to 350 1500-1700 7.5-10
Fly ash Block 420 to 450 1700-2000 3.98
Hollow Concrete Blocks 460 to 490 1700-2000 1.25

Cost Reduction in Plaster

Using Gupsum plaster instead of internal conventional plaster

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 Cost Optimization by Providing Affordable Housing for Lower Income Group
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Gupsum plaster Vs Internal Plaster Comparison

Table - 19
Cost of Plaster
Particular Brick Solution Cement + P.O.P
Thickness (mm) 20-22 21-22
Material Cost per sq.m 119-129 130-145
Labor Cost Per Sq.m 99-119 120-135
Total cost 220-250 250-280
Net Saving 25-30/- Rs per sq.m

LIG Unit Mascon Details

Fig. 6: Mascon Unit

Total cost for a 1 LIG unit of 45 sqm2 area is considered.

Table - 20
Unit cost breakup
No Description Units Qty. Per unit Unit cost Total Cost
1 Concrete
Slabs & stairs (125mm thick) M3 8 3500 28,000
Internal Wall (100mm thick) M3 8 3800 30,400
External Wall (150mm thick) M3 7 3500 24500
2 Reinforcing Steel
Slabs & Stairs Kg 1000 48 48,000
Internal walls Kg 500 48 24,000
External Walls Kg 500 48 24,000
3 Morficon Formwork
a Equipment
Slabs & stair M2 50 70 3500
Internal walls M2 20 70 1400
External Walls M2 70 70 4900
b Labour
Slabs, stairs & all walls M2 140 70 9800
4 Concrete Finishers
Internal wall faces & celling (3mm) skim coat M2 140 75 10500
S External wall faces (6mm) plaster M2 140 90 12600
Total Cost Rs. 2,21,600

IV. CONCLUSION

As discussed above in this paper cost optimization in affordable housing is must. In a country like India where housing need is
much higher than supply for the lower income group. In a developing country where construction is so much cost based and need
of this projects are very high so cost optimization is very important. By using Cost effective material and Technique we can reduce
the cost of construction. This Paper also suggests different ways to reduce the cost of construction.

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 Cost Optimization by Providing Affordable Housing for Lower Income Group
(IJSTE/ Volume 3 / Issue 09 / 057)

Among the all suggested material C.S.E.B are the most economical for the construction as there cost per block is much less and
its made from locally available material. The material which has the lowest density will have the lightest weight. AAC Block has
the light weight compared to other. Lightest material will reduced the reinforcement cost. AAC block have 66% lesser dead load
than normal brick so the overall cost of construction will be much lesser using. AAC block so it might turn to the cheapest material
of construction. Using flyash bricks there is also reduction in reinforcement as they are 27% lighter than normal bricks. AAC,
CSEB blocks will have lesser carpet area than normal bricks their dimension are larger than normal bricks. Using different materials
as suggested for brick work and for plaster the optimum saving in cost will be about 10 to 12 % of building.
The Currently used material in construction of affordable houses is R.C.C. Even though cost of construction is not very low.
RCC use as it is easier to construct and construction time is also very less. The cost depends upon the number of repetition of the
formwork system. Apart from these materials Mason/mivan technology for formwork also reduce the cost 50 to 60% per unit cost
of construction and time of construction. By using mascon/mivan technology speed of construction is 4days per floor so total
construction period also be reduced in compare to normal construction techniques.
For future study apart from Lower income Group same can be optimized for other categories like EWS (Economically weaker
Section) and MIG (Medium income Group). Also, individual sites should be considered for cost optimization. A detailed risk
analysis using large enough data sample can be carried out.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I wish to express my deep sense of graduate to my internal guide Lecturer Mr.Parth Patel and to our Head of department Asst.
prof. Mrs Ankita J Parikh of LDRP-Institute of Technology and Research for their able guidance and useful suggestions, which
helped me in completing the project work, in time. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude and extend
my heartiest thanks to Prof. Dr Gargi Rajpara( Principal) for lighting the very first ray of hope in pursuing a career in Infrastructure
Engineering ever since my college time and till now.

REFERENCES
[1] Bevan et al.(2001), "Planning and affordable rural housing the limits to rational policy"
[2] Best and Shucksmith,( 2006) " Planning and affordable rural housing the limits to rational policy"
[3] Gabriel et al (2005), p6"Housing Affordability Literature Review and Affordable Housing Program Audit" Urban Research Centre University of Western
Sydney
[4] John Sturzaker, June (2009) Planning and affordable rural housing the limits to rational policy
[5] Richards (2008), Housing Affordability Literature Review and Affordable Housing Program Audit
[6] Robinson and Coward,( 2003). Planning and affordable rural housing the limits to rational policy
[7] Shucksmith, (1981). Planning and affordable rular housing the limits to rational policy
[8] Atul Thakur | TNN | Nov 25, 2008, 01.04 AM IST33% of Indians live in less space than US prisoners,
[9] HimadriMayank Assistant Vice President, Research and REIS, Affordable Housing in India An Inclusive Approach to Sheltering the Bottom of the Pyramid
[10] Mascon Construction System Limited, Canada
[11] www.mivan.in

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