PM Modi Inaugurates India’s First 3D Printed Post Office, Hails It as a “Testament to Nation’s Innovation”
India achieved another significant milestone as Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the nation’s inaugural 3D printed Post Office in Bengaluru’s Cambridge Layout. L&T Construction utilized the innovative 3D Concrete Printing Technology, with support from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, to construct this remarkable post office building. Spanning approximately 1000 square feet, the construction of this office was accomplished in just 45 days, a fraction of the time it would have taken using conventional construction techniques, which typically require 6-8 months for completion.
Inaugurating the revolutionary structure, Vaishnaw said, “The spirit of development, the spirit of developing our own technology, the spirit of doing something that was considered impossible in earlier times, that is the defining characteristic of these times.”
Highlighting this achievement, L&T said that 3D printing is an emerging technology that has the potential to speed up the construction of buildings while improving their quality.
To commemorate this achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: “Every Indian would be proud to see India’s first 3D printed post office in Cambridge Layout, Bengaluru. It is a testament to our nation’s innovation and progress and also embodies the spirit of a self-reliant India. Congratulations to those who have work hard to ensure the completion of the post.”
How does 3D concrete printing work?
According to L&T’s statement, the 3D printing technology involves the use of a robotic printer that refers to the drawing input of a 3D model and applies concrete layer by layer. “The process requires a delicate balance of concrete properties, including flowability, rapid hardening to improve load-bearing capacity, green concrete space for bonding between layers, and sufficient strength to ensure successful printing.”
History of India with 3D printed buildings
This is not the first 3D printed building the country has built. In April 2021, Union Minister Nirmala Sitaraman inaugurated India’s first 3D printed house, located at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras campus, created by tech startup Tvasta. In addition, in 2022, the Indian Army completed the construction of a 3D-printed housing for soldiers. Currently, there is also a Hindu temple under construction in Telangana that uses this technology.
