Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan today handed over the first instalment for three lakh houses worth 3,600 crore rupees to Andhra Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin 2.0. The event was organised in Guntur district in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Mr Chouhan also laid the foundation stone for the country’s first pilot housing project using 3D concrete printing technology, under which 177 houses will be constructed at a cost of 14 crore rupees.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Chouhan said the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government are working together to accelerate development across the state and make it the number one state in the country. Mr Chouhan said, the initial allocation proposed by officials was 76,000 houses. However, following Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s request to ensure that every poor family in the state gets a permanent home, the allocation was increased to three lakh houses.

Describing the 3D concrete printing project at Burripalem and Obulnayudupalem as a major step towards modernising rural housing, Mr Chouhan said the 14-crore pilot project will help reduce construction time, costs and labour requirements. The project will use advanced machinery and 3D concrete printing technology to construct 177 houses, with the work expected to be completed within six months. The houses are also designed to provide greater durability and a longer lifespan than conventional structures.

Mr Chouhan said the Centre will support Andhra Pradesh in providing pucca houses to poor families in the state. The Union Minister said the Centre would also support rural infrastructure works under the Vikasit Bharat-G RAM G scheme, including roads, drains and drinking water facilities.