Blog
Stories of sustainable construction
11th November 2024
In conversation with Mr. Saket Mehra (co-founder Aap Ka Awas)
Snippet of Podcast with Mr. Saket Mehra
Getting an insight into Aap Ka Awas & IHS
Aviral : Hi, this is Aviral. I’m an architect and a construction enthusiast. Today, we’re at Aap Ka Awas, an organization building mass housing solutions that are reportedly 30% faster, more durable, and cost-effective compared to traditional construction. I’m here with Mr. Saket Mehra, co-founder of Aap Ka Awas, who brings over 30 years of construction experience, both internationally and in India. Welcome, sir.
Saket Mehra: Thank you, Aviral.
Aviral: To start, could you tell us what inspired IHS One and how your professional and personal
journey led you to trust and adopt this technology?
Saket Mehra: I’ve been connected with the civil industry for a long time, working on numerous
projects in the NCR region. Civil construction has always been more than a profession for me—it’s a
passion. About ten years ago, the idea for Aap Ka Awas began, focusing on the MIG segment. The goal
was twofold: create a social impact and, naturally, develop a commercially successful model.
We identified the RC plank system as suitable for India. I connected with Mr. PK Adlakha, a senior
architect and former dean, who had executed many projects using RC plank systems. We then
developed a walling system based on interlocking blocks, which locks on both vertical and horizontal
axes, creating a stable structure.
The real innovation was embedding columns within the walling system instead of casting them
separately on-site at a higher cost. This, combined with a connected roofing system, has been our
approach for the last 25-30 years, and it earned recognition from the government with registration in
January 2020.
Aviral: In the Indian context, especially for tier-two and tier-three cities, how do you maintain cost-
effectiveness without compromising on quality and strength?
Saket Mehra: There’s a perception problem in India: “low cost” is often equated with low quality. To
address this, we use the term low-income housing instead of low-cost housing. Our goal is not just to
reduce costs but to increase durability, providing homeowners with better lifecycle cost efficiency.
Our products are more durable than standard in-situ construction, giving people more choice and
reducing dependence on contractors.
Aviral: Could you walk us through your journey leading up to Aap Ka Awas and why you focused on
the MIG segment?
Saket Mehra: Civil construction has always been my passion. Internationally, and in NCR, I worked on
almost 40 high-income group projects. While these projects were finish-focused, I realized the
superstructure is where real value lies. This drove me toward the MIG segment, which is often
ignored or handled locally by small developers, presenting an opportunity to provide structured, high-
quality housing solutions.
Aviral: How does IHS One work, practically speaking?
Saket Mehra: IHS One is a fully prefab system, comprising three main components:
1. Interlocking bricks with inbuilt column structures.
2. Roofing system with joists and planks manufactured in small panels.
These components are plug-and-play. Any mason trained in fundamental masonry can assemble
them. The smaller panels ease transport, reduce weight for manual handling, and allow sites without
heavy machinery to execute the construction.
Aviral: Why use smaller roofing elements instead of a single large unit?
Saket Mehra: Prefab in India has historically failed due to logistics and transportation costs. Bykeeping elements smaller, we maintain cost-effectiveness and ease of installation.
Aviral: Many prefabricated systems are rigid. How do you allow flexibility for homeowners?
Saket Mehra: That’s why it’s called an Integrated Hybrid System. It combines prefabrication with theflexibility of in-situ construction, allowing for customized finishes. We’re also integrating AI-drivendesigns, enabling homeowners to create plans quickly and cost-effectively without replacingarchitects. All designs are structurally sound and architect-certified.
Aviral: Is the system safe in seismic zones?
Saket Mehra: Absolutely. We’ve built structures in Vapi and Anjar, Gujarat (Seismic Zone 5), and
they’ve stood the test of time for nearly ten years.
Aviral: How does Aap Ka Awas approach sustainability, and why should an average family care?
Saket Mehra: Sustainability is crucial. Wherever possible, we replace cement with lime, use bio-waste,
fly ash, and reduce river sand usage. The materials are circulatory, environmentally friendly, and do
not compromise quality. Future innovations include using fiberglass composites instead of steel for
roofing, further improving sustainability.
Aviral: How does the strength of Nutan bricks compare to traditional fired bricks?
Saket Mehra: Traditional flint-fired bricks have roughly one-third the compressive strength of our
bricks. Our bricks can reach 150 kg/cm² (15 MPa), ensuring very strong structures.
Aviral: Sir, so far in your journey with Aap Ka Awas, what have been the challenges of scaling or
adoption of this technology?
Saket Mehra: Well, you see, anything coming into the market—especially for the private sector—is
perceived in a certain way. People assume the government, whether central or state, would support
new schemes once they approve them.
Aviral: Right.
Saket Mehra: But the reality is, the government currently has no mechanism to introduce such
support for the private sector. They’ve kept incentives like the Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) for
government tenders, but private companies haven’t benefited from it.
Aviral: I see.
Saket Mehra: For example, in government tenders, ₹100 per square foot TIG has been granted. But
for the private sector, the government should consider doing this as well. It would boost scaling and
build confidence—if the government is incentivising a system, people naturally trust it.
Aviral: That makes sense.
Saket Mehra: Exactly. If the government incentivises any system approved by the Government of
India, they should create a mechanism for adoption of these technologies. On our side, through our
trust and the products we’ve developed, we’re also doing our bit to create confidence and promote
adoption.
Aviral: Like subsidies for EVs?
Saket Mehra: Yes, exactly. In cars and EV batteries, the government provides subsidies. Similar
incentives could be extended to things that benefit the Indian masses. Civil construction hasn’t been
considered yet. In other industries like automobiles and electronics, production-linked incentives
(PLIs) are common. Precast or prefab construction is emerging in India, and in countries like China,
Europe, and the US, they rely heavily on precasting because it’s more reliable. Without government
support, this industry will move slowly.
Aviral: So government incentives are key for scaling.
Saket Mehra: Absolutely. Startups, especially in technology, focus mostly on digital systems. But
conventional systems combined with digital systems—like civil construction—also need attention. We
are among the few startups in India pioneering this space.
Aviral: That’s impressive. How do you see this technology or the future of mass housing in India over
the next ten years? And how will families adopt these new technologies?
Saket Mehra: In the next five years, we’ll start introducing these systems in Rajasthan to gauge
acceptability. We’re confident adoption will grow. Once people understand and experience these
time-tested structures, it will help us scale over the next ten years.
Aviral: And expansion plans?
Saket Mehra: If everything goes well, we plan to expand to other northern states, building factories
near the demand centers to reduce logistics costs and make adoption easier. It’s about decentralized
access for the masses.
Aviral: That’s great. Thank you so much for your time today. This has been very informative.
Saket Mehra: You’re welcome. Always happy to answer questions. We are constantly developing and
improving our systems to make structures even stronger and more durable. Anytime you want to
reach out, there’s no problem.
12th September 2025
Demo Room and Training Session at Shri Vishwakarma Skill University
Mr. Mahesh explaining various wall joints to student of S.V.S.U.
Prof. Ashok Wattal, S.V.S.U staff, students and trainer Mr. Subasen Jain at the completion of demonstration room at the S.V.S.U construction academy.
Demonstration Room at SVSU Using Aap Ka Awas'
IHS-One Technology
We are thrilled to announce that Aap Ka Awas has successfully built a demonstration room at Shri Vishwakarma Skill University (SVSU) in Palwal, Haryana. This 10 ft x 10 ft room showcases our innovative IHS-One technology, which focuses on sustainable and efficient construction methods. The initiative was facilitated by Professor Ashok Wattal, who enthusiastically supported this project and the opportunity it presented for students to explore new, cutting-edge construction technologies.
The demonstration room highlights the versatility of our interlocking NUTAN bricks, which require no mortar, as well as the assembly of roofs using planks and joists. Over the course of four days, students observed firsthand how this technology can drastically reduce construction time and costs, making it an ideal solution for modern civil construction projects.
Our expert trainers - Mr. Subasen Jain, Mr. Mangal Singh, and Mr. Mahesh - were on-site to answer the students'
curious questions and demonstrate various techniques such as brick bonds and wall joints unique to the IHS-One system.Their insights provided invaluable hands-on learning, and the students were highly engaged throughout, eager to apply these skills in future projects.
The entire experience was not only educational for the students but also for the faculty and staff at SVSU, who had the freedom to observe the process at any time, learning the nuances of interlocking brick construction and precast roof systems.
At Aap Ka Awas, we are committed to fostering practical learning experiences and promoting eco-friendly construction technologies that are scalable, efficient, and cost-effective. We are excited to continue collaborating with academic institutions like SVSU to further innovation in the field of construction.
Stay tuned for more updates on our latest projects and innovations!
"मकान ऐसे मत बनाओ की लोग फरियाद करें, म कान ऐसे बनाओ की लोग फिर याद करें |"
