Mr. Praveen Mehetre will present his APS as per the detail below:

Date: 17th February 2025

Time: 1530 – 1630 hrs.

Venue: Conference Room No.1, C-TARA Office

Title: Bamboo Structure for Rural Infrastructure

Supervisor: Prof. Chaaruchandra Korde

RPC Members: Prof. Pennan Chinnasamy, Prof. Yogesh Desai

Abstract:

India’s rural infrastructure remains underdeveloped, hindered by inadequate services, funding constraints, and environmental vulnerabilities. Addressing these challenges sustainably requires innovative solutions, and bamboo emerges as a promising alternative due to its rapid growth, strength, and renewability. However, its structural potential remains largely untapped due to gaps in material data, standardized design methodologies, supportive policies, and supply chain mechanisms.

Integrating bamboo into rural infrastructure can be socio-economically transformative, creating jobs, fostering skill development, and strengthening local industries. Beyond its economic benefits, bamboo is a cost-effective, sustainable building material that sequesters carbon and reduces dependence on conventional resources. Unlike traditional materials such as steel, cement, and plastic—energy-intensive materials that contribute significantly to carbon emissions—bamboo has a lower environmental footprint while enhancing resilience, affordability, and accessibility in rural development.

Bamboo’s versatility suits various rural infrastructure projects, including community halls, schools, agricultural storage facilities, healthcare centers, market spaces, and pedestrian bridges. Standardizing bamboo construction techniques in the form of portal frames and integrating them into rural development strategies can pave the way for more sustainable, durable, and community-driven infrastructure solutions.

Key words-Rural infrastructure, policies, socio-economic, sustainable, community-driven