JAMMU: Minister for Housing and Urban Development Department, Sat Sharma on Tuesday said that the main objectives of the building centre are to collect, develops and disseminate information on various low-cost technologies.

He made the remarks when he visited the Building Centre to take stock of the functioning of the unit. He added that the building centre promotes cost-effective building technologies and manufacturing of low-cost building materials substitute to conventional building materials.

During the visit, the Minister has apprised that it also  provides assistance for promoting entrepreneurship by organizing various training programmes and standardization of modular construction practices.

The Minister inspected products manufactured by building centre such as cement concrete Blocks, Hollow Blocks, Tiles/Pavers, drains, kerbstones, R.C.C drains covers, slabs and driveway pavers.

Sat Sharma was further apprised by Director Ashok Kumar Mahajan that these products are cost-effective, environment-friendly, meet quality standards and are substantially being used in the construction of lanes, drains, pavements, boundary walls and houses both in public as well as private sectors.

He was also informed that with the use of these products/technologies, there would be an overall savings of 20 to 40% in price.