Celebrating Ferrocement Day 26: Engineering Excellence at the Er V D Joshi Awards Function

`FERROCEMENT DAY` 14 th February 2026 marked with Er.V.D.Joshi Awards for excellence in Ferrocement Innovative Construction. Let this day mark the beginning of a revitalized ferrocement movement in India ,one that is codified, digitized, sustainable, and globally relevant.

The International ferrocement committee suggest use of nomenclature `Ultra-Thin Ultra High performance Concrete composite ` (Ultra-Thin UHPC), for Ferrocement.

India’s construction vision for the current decade (2020s) and the next (2030s) is structured around scale, sustainability, technology integration, and resilience. It is not incremental growth; it is systemic transformation aligned with economic expansion, climate commitments, and demographic demand,Calling for Affordable & Inclusive Housing. The Major drivers being PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana),Urban redevelopment and slum rehabilitation. The Shift is toward, Precast systems, Monolithic concrete, Modular housing, Low-cost sustainable materials. Abiding by Sustainability & Net-Zero Commitments, India has committed to Net-zero emissions by 2070,Reduction in carbon intensity, Construction sector focuses on Green buildings (GRIHA, IGBC),Energy-efficient envelopes, Low-carbon cement alternatives, Fly ash and slag utilization, Waste recycling in construction, Water conservation structures.

In the phase of Urban Transformation; India’s urban population will exceed 40% by 2035.

Focus areas are Smart Cities Mission, Transit-oriented development, Vertical construction, Redevelopment of aging structures, retrofitting rehabilitation.

 The next decade 20230 -2040, vision of construction industry will move from expansion to optimization, firstly ,Low-Carbon & Climate-Resilient Construction.We Expect, Mandatory embodied carbon reporting, wider use of blended cements, High-performance thin-shell systems, Coastal and flood-resilient infrastructure, Heat-resilient urban planning, Material efficiency will become a design parameter, and not an option.

 Secondly, Industrialized Construction, Shift is toward Precast and modular construction, Off-site fabrication, Robotics in construction, Large-scale 3D printing. India will move from labor-intensive to technology-assisted construction.

Thirdly, Advanced Materials Integration, Likely growth in UHPC,Fiber-reinforced composites, GFRP rebars, Ferrocement revival in hybrid systems, Retrofitting and structural health monitoring.

 Fourth, Codal & Regulatory Modernization, Future emphasis is on Performance-based design codes, Seismic resilience, Fire safety enhancement, Durability-based design life specifications, Digitized approval processes.

Er.V.D.Joshi Award for best ferrocement Structure