MCD schools to get new, pre-fabricated classrooms

With the aim to save both money and time, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's education committee chief has come up with the idea of using pre-fabricated structures instead of RCC structures, for its schoolrooms. HT reports.

With the aim to save both money and time, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's education committee chief has come up with the idea of using pre-fabricated structures instead of RCC structures, for its schoolrooms.

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From its annual budget for the education department, about R4.12 crore is spent on infrastructure. The civic body spends approximately R5 lakh per room and it takes about 12-18 months to construct a school building. Moreover, these buildings/structures need regular maintenance.

Pre-fabricated structures have been popularly used to rehabilitate people in natural disaster-hit zones — the Leh cloudburst being the latest example.

The structure's make ensures it is sealed from extreme heat and cold conditions and hence, is suitable for a climate like that of Delhi.

"(Hence) we thought of using pre-fabricated structures. These are lightweight yet sustainable and good for long-term use," said MCD's education committee chief Dr Mahinder Nagpal.

With the use of pre-fabricated structures, the cost per room would come down to approximately R3.5 lakh.

Meanwhile, Nagpal has written to the MCD commissioner for the same and said he would also be presenting/bringing in the proposal during the next committee meeting.

"I have also asked our education department for a presentation about the structures," he added. Since it took over the reins of the MCD in 2007, the ruling BJP has added 643 rooms to the existing infrastructure.