Visakhapatnam: Post Cyclone Hudhud, Vizag is seriously contemplating building long-lasting structures that can endure natural calamities of such proportions. This will cost prospective home buyers more, owing to the sophisticated techniques being used.
Buildings are considered vulnerable if they cannot withstand the gale force winds. High-rise buildings are directly affected by wind force and can even collapse due to poor construction.
A coastal city like Vizag needs to brace itself for gale winds, storm surges and other natural disasters. Experts suggest structures should be modified after ascertaining the design wind velocity.
“If the wind speed exceeds 250 kmph we need to modify the design for more reinforcement. The cost of the structure will vary based on the additional material used for strengthening it,” said P. Koteswara Rao, honorary secretary of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India.
Realtors predict a surge in construction, especially due to the bifurcation.
“There will be a 10 to 20 per cent cost variation in the future if strengthening procedures are used,” said Prof K. Srinivasa Rao of civil engineering department of Andhra University.
If we want to convert the traditional design to a cyclone-resistant structure, the basic cost of beams and columns would automatically enhance for reinforced concrete jacketing. There will be around 10-20 pc cost variation in future if they really apply the strengthening procedures,” said Prof K. Srinivasa Rao of civil engineering department of Andhra University.
On an average, 1,000 to 1,500 apartments are constructed every year in the city, following guidelines provided by the Bureau of Indian Standards in Part 3, based on disaster records in the last four five decades.
“We have been following the required standards keeping in view the high velocity winds during cyclones and hence many structures remained without any damages.
“If the wind speed exceeds 250 kmph we need to modify the design for more reinforcement. The cost of the structure will vary based on the additional material used for strengthening it,” said P. Koteswara Rao, honorary secretary of Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India
There are few multi-storey buildings with a maximum of 10 to 14 floors in the city, but a new one having 35-storeys is being planned in Seethammadhara area, which would be the highest one in South Asia. People in realty sector say such structures would come up in huge numbers as a result of bifurcation and the subsequent government bounty for mega city development. “If we want to convert the traditional design to a required cyclone-resistant structure, the basic cost of beams and columns would automatically enhance for reinforced concrete jacketing. There will be around 10-20 pc cost variation in future if they really apply the strengthening procedures,” said Prof K. Srinivasa Rao of civil engineering department of Andhra University.
