ABSTRACT
Today, as developing countries such as India are looking forward to moving into the 21 51 century, it is expected that the basic needs of the citizenry should be fulfilled. Specifically, where the demand and supply ratio of living units is 3:1, the supply of apartments and houses is much less then the demand (IA&B 1996). This is due, in part, because the increase in the cost of homes is approximately 50% greater then the overall inflation rate. Here, the role of the construction industry could be questioned. Nevertheless, to assist in meeting the demand, the government of lndia has enacted legislation to increase the resources to the building industry. These include low interest loans and various tax incentives for developers and builders to construct additional housing units. Authorities are also recommending that the private sector work with semi-governmental and governmental agencies to establish a Building Center or Institute. The task for this group would be to develop efficient construction systems so that the cost of housing could be reduced (Murashev, Singlove & Baikov 1998).
