Bengal keen to use steel in affordable housing projects

The West Bengal government is keen to use steel in future affordable housing projects and is open to talk to steel companies about it.
"The state government is keen to use steel in building affordable housing projects. We are ready to hold a workshop with the steel companies to look for an opportunity", Urban Development Secretary and CMD of HIDCO, Debasish Sen said today.
"The state has to make housing for the poor through affordable projects. Steel is an useful material since construction time is much lower as compared to brick and mortar", Sen said at the launch of India's first all-steel residential housing block 'Restello' at New Town near the metropolis.

He said that if a building is completed faster, then costs would be lower due to less use of labour and savings on interest costs.
"Now with the steel prices being low, this is possible if the companies are willing to pass it on to the customer", he told reporters.
Restello, built by Bengal Shrachi Housing Development, is the first all-steel building in India.

Ravi Todi, MD of Shrachi Group said that the building had required an investment of Rs 40 crore for 12 flats, comprising six 3BHK duplex and another six 4BHK duplex flats.
Todi said that the demand for swanky housing is on the rise across India and Kolkata is no exception.

The architecture of the building has been designed by Piercy Conner Architects of UK.