Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation of six Light House Projects via videoconference. These projects are a part of the Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India) initiative, in Indore, Rajkot, Chennai, Ranchi, Agartala and Lucknow.About 1,000 houses in each of these cities will be constructed in a year, using six distinct technologies from a basket of 54 such technologies shortlisted under the GHTC-India, 2019. According to the Prime Minister, India is getting new technologies for providing efficient, affordable and comfortable houses to the poor and middle class. Call to planners, students Prime Minister welcomed planners, architects and students from various universities and institutions to visit sites, learn new technologies and mould them for use in accordance with local requirements. Prefabricated sandwich panel system technology would be used in Indore, while in Rajkot, through tunnelling, monolithic concrete construction system from France was being deployed. Precast concrete technology from the U.S and Finland would be used for the construction of affordable houses in Chennai, and in Ranchi, the project would be implemented through the 3-D technology from Germany, he said. In Agartala, the steel-frame technology would be used for constructing earthquake resistant houses and pre-constructed wall technology from Canada would be used in Lucknow. Other government schemes would also be linked to these projects to provide facilities such as water supply, electricity and LPG connection to the beneficiaries.Benefit for middle class A series of measures were taken to promote the real estate sector. Taxes on affordable and regular houses had been reduced significantly to encourage buyers. Home loan interest rates were also reduced keeping the same in mind. The Central rental housing complex project was conceived during the Covid-19, with the objective of addressing the issues faced by migrant labourers. The project was being implemented in coordination with industrialists and other investors.Also Read: Global housing technology challenge for new construction tech